Top Choices for Valentines Day Flowers

Since ancient times, roses have been the flowers most associated with love, passion and romance. We make this link, however, not merely because of tradition handed down through the generations, but because of an actual physical response to these impossibly beautiful blooms; to their colours, especially red which is known to raise the pulse rate; their form, from a tight bud to full blown and even beyond, every stage has its own special, uniquely feminine beauty; and finally, perhaps our most visceral response is to their mood-altering fragrance, inducing us to breathe more deeply, releasing endorphins and creating a feeling of well-being. The similarities between our response to the rose and the more powerful emotions invoked by romantic feelings are obvious.

Because we recognise the rose so readily as a symbol of love, it really does not matter how many we give, indeed a single, long-stemmed red rose can speak volumes, especially when love is new. If you feel this has been done too many times already, a dozen red roses, one for every month of the year is a traditional symbol of lasting devotion; or two dozen, one for every hour of the day; or one for every year together and so on, until she is receiving them by the armful by the time she is ninety.

A simple bouquet can be very effective but to ring the changes a sheaf style or some other custom design is just as acceptable, as long as the flowers are roses. Add chocolates, balloons and diamonds as you see fit, as long as you don`t forget the roses.

What if her favourite flowers are lilies? You might think it is more thoughtful to choose her favourites. Show her that particular thoughtfulness another day. She will be delighted with lilies on Valentine`s Day but deep down we all know - this day requires the quintessential flower of love - and that flower is the rose.

A reasonable man might be tempted to substitute silk Valentines Day flowers. Modern ingenuity has created artificial roses to rival the beauty of the real thing. Lasting forever, could they not be more fitting as a symbol of everlasting devotion? No. We watch the blooms open; the petals turn out around the folded centre to perfection and beyond. This mysterious unfolding is part of the beauty. The beauty all too briefly bears witness - then it is gone. This is as it should be. This is part of the romance. It is important.