Roses. Ask almost anyone what roses symbolize and they’ll tell you,
“Love.” In February, our thoughts turn to love, thanks to St.
Valentine, Cupid’s little arrows and, of course, roses.
p
If you’re thinking of treating your Special Sweetie to roses on
February 14, I say, “Good for you!” But I have an idea that will put
a unique tweak on your gift that will show your love lasts longer than
just Valentine’s Day. Doesn’t that sound good?
p
But first, before you rush out and plunk down your hard-earned cash
for a bunch of blooms, take a minute to think about the language of
flowers; what the color of the rose says about you and your feelings.
p
Yes, strange as it might seem, flowers really do have a language, a
code if you will, that legend says originated in 15th century Persia,
coming to Europe over the next three hundred years. By the 19th
century, people in Europe and America were using this floral code to
send wordless messages to each other. Because each flower, color, and
even number of flowers and how they were arranged in the bouquet had
special meanings, lovers could converse secretly without ever
exchanging a word.
p
Roses are the flowers most associated with the emotions, particularly
love. But are you sure those roses you’re about to grab at the
supermarket express exactly the feelings you wish to convey? For a
start, there are many shades of red rose, each expressing slightly
different emotions. Consider this:
br
ol
liMid red roses: romantic love and respect
liAmaranth red: long standing desire
liCardinal red: sublime desire
liCarmine red: deceitful desire
liFiery red: flames of passion
/ol
br
It doesn’t stop with red, of course. Other colors have special
meanings that you might want to consider, depending on the message you
wish to convey:
br
ol
liLavender/purple: grace, gentility, refinement
liPeach: sociability, friendship
liPink: appreciation, gratitude
liRed and white together: unity
liRed and yellow together: happiness, gaiety, fun
liYellow: joy, celebration
/ol
So lavender roses might be perfect for grandma or your inlaws,
perhaps. Peach roses could be could be a nice choice for your best
friend, and pink roses to say thank you to a co-worker. Yellow roses
are often seen at wedding showers and receptions, but be careful! In
Islamic tradition, yellow roses symbolize treachery or deceit, in
Mexico they are associated with death and to the French they imply
infidelity!
p
Well, here’s my “unique tweak” to make this Valentine’s Day the most
memorable ever. Give your Honey a rose bush rather than a bouquet.
Why? A bouquet will fade and wither in a few days, but a live,
growing rose bush, planted where she or he will see it everyday, year
after year, speaks of a love that is perennial!
p
I strongly recommend Knockout Roses because they are relatively easy
to care for and produce an amazing amount of gorgeous, fragrant
blooms, often twice as many as other varieties. Look for:
p
a href="http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ROS+KNO
+GAL+ST"Rose Knockout Red/abr
This is an excellent choice for a low-maintenance, disease resistant
rose. Fluorescent, fire-engine red in cooler temperatures turning
deep, dense pink in the heat of summer.
p
a href="http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ROS+KNO
+DOU"Rose Knockout Double Red/abr
Ooh, the passion! This one has deep iridescent burgundy red. You’ll
find 5 or 6 blooms per stem giving a luscious, luxurious display.
p
a href="http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ROS+KNO
+DOU+PIN"Rose Knockout Double Pink/abr
The Double Pink is a little more dense and compact than some other
Knockouts, reaching about 3 to 4 feet high with those eye-popping,
blushing-pink double blooms.
p
a href="http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ROS+KNO
+RAI%2DGAL+ST"Rose Knockout Rainbow/abr
This is one of my favorites, blooming from spring to fall with blooms
that open orange from coral-pink buds, and then quickly turn soft
coral-pink shading to gold at the base, surrounding a yellow center.
p
Look for knockout roses in one gallon containers as they’ll be further
along in their growth cycle and more likely to thrive once planted.
p
Knockout roses will bring a perennial display of passionate color and
heady fragrance to your loved one’s garden. What better way to say “I
love you” on Valentine’s Day and every day for years to come?
p
Feel free to send me an e-mail if you want more information on
Knockout roses or need some buying information.
p
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