Roses

Red Roses, the flowery symbol of love.  Last Friday was the War on the Roses, as valentines day took its toll on these, the flowers of love.  According to news reports 224 million roses were grown for Valentine's Day, and 51% of individuals purchased Red Roses.  This comes out to a total of 1.9 billion dollars spent on flowers alone, just on Valentine's Day.  That is a massive amount of flowers, in comparison the Tournament of Rose (Rose Bowl Parade) which only uses 500,000 roses.   

I was miffed when I learned that rose colors had different meaning, and giving a white rose, sends a much different message.  For men, a rose is a rose, and that is all there is to it.  To the floral community each rose is for a specific reason.  Here are some examples. 

• Red - Red roses are the traditional symbol for love and romance, and a time-honored way to say "I love you." The red rose has long symbolized beauty and perfection. A bouquet of red roses is the perfect way to express your deep feelings for someone special.

• Yellow - The bright, sunny color of yellow roses evokes a feeling of warmth and happiness. The warm feelings associated with the yellow rose are often akin to those shared with a true friend. As such, the yellow rose is an ideal symbol for joy and friendship. 

• Pink - As a symbol of grace and elegance, the pink rose is often given as an expression of admiration. Pink roses can also convey appreciation as well as joyfulness. Pink rose bouquets often impart a gentler meaning than their red counterparts.

• White - White roses represent innocence and purity and are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings. The white rose is also a symbol of honor and reverence, and white rose arrangements are often used as an expression of remembrance.

I did give Amy some red roses on Valentine's Day.