CARING FOR FRESH CUT ROSES
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”
William Shakespeare ( Romeo and Juliet)
In literature and poetry for centuries, Roses are perhaps the most beloved flower in the world. Roses have been a symbol of loveand passion since Roman times.
Roses are among the oldest of cultivated flowers, with the first known to have grown in Asian gardens 5,000 years ago.
On Valentine’s Day roses are in incredible demand. Of course, this increases the cost at this time of year. To get the most out of your investment you can follow a few basic steps.
The more water that reaches the flower, the longer it will last. To ensure this process proper cutting is essential. Roses need a clean cut on an angle to open the stem and absorb water. A blade or sharp knife is a good tool for this. Scissors or pruning shears unfortunately close the stem and are therefore not a good choice, blocking the water from entering the rose.
Keep your fresh roses out of the sun. Direct sunlight will dehydrate the flower and lessen its life span.
After a few days or when your flowers begin to droop it is time to freshen them up. Remove the flowers and clean the vase, then refill with fresh water. Give your roses a fresh ‘clean’ cut as described above and put them in the vase. This will give your roses a few more days of beauty.
Flower crystals do work so I add them to all flower arrangements. Flower shops and even super markets supply crystals free of charge, so remember to ask for it. If you don’t have flower crystals a regular lemon lime soda (not diet) will also do the trick. (P. Allen Smith)
DRYING YOUR ROSES
You can easily dry roses and enjoy them all winter long. Do this while the roses are still fresh, before the flowers droop or the petals drop off. Using a hanger and twist ties, simply hang the roses up-side-down, leaving space between them for good air circulation. Hang them in a dry room out of direct sunlight, which will help preserve color. Leave them undisturbed until they are fully dried, approximately two or three weeks. When dried they are ready for display.
MEANING OF ROSES BY COLOR
A red rose is an unmistakable expression of love. Red roses convey deep emotions – be it love, longing or desire. Red Roses can also be used to convey respect, admiration or devotion. A deep red rose can be used to convey heartfelt regret and sorrow. The number of red roses has special romantic meanings associated with them. Two red roses are the most popular of all which conveys “Be mine” and “I love you”.
White Roses: White is the color of purity, chastity and innocence. White flowers are generally associated with new beginnings and make an ideal accompaniment to a first-time bride walking down the aisle. White flowers can be used to convey sympathy or humility. They also are indicative of spirituality. Hence, white roses also follow suit.
Yellow Roses: Yellow roses are an expression of exuberance. Yellow roses evoke sunny feelings of joy, warmth and welcome. They are symbols of friendship and caring. The yellow rose, like the other roses, does not carry an undertone of romance. It indicates purely platonic emotions.
Pink Roses: There are a lot of variations of the pink rose. Over all, pink roses are used to conveygentle emotions such as admiration, joy and gratitude. Light pink rose blooms are indicative of sweetness and innocence. Deep pink rose blooms convey deep gratitude and appreciation. Pink roses also connote elegance and grace.
Lavender Roses: A Lavender rose like its color conveys enchantment. It also expresses “love at first sight“. Darker shades of lavender roses (close to purple) convey a sense of regal majesty and splendor. These roses are used to express fascination and adoration.
Mixed Roses: By mixing rose blooms of different colors purposefully, you can create a bouquet of emotions. For example, a bouquet of red and white roses would mean I love you intensely and my intentions are honorable. A random mix of roses would convey mixed feelings or send a message: “I don’t know what my feelings are yet but I sure do like you enough to send you roses.”
A dozen red roses symbolizes love, passion and desire.
A single red rose is an elegant way to say “I Love You”.
California, grows approximately 60% of all cut roses for Valentine’s Day in the United States. However, by far the most cut roses for Valentine’s Day, and throughout the entire year come from South America, Columbia and Ecuador. The long, warm days and cool nights along with fertile soils found in the Andes contribute to the superior quality of South American roses.
Happy Valentine’s Day,
James
