As an oft-given romantic gift, roses, along with candy and Cupid, play a prominent role on Valentine’s Day. But some people, despite their affinity for the flowers, say they should be given with some creativity.
Laura Lewis has managed Daisies Flowers at 603 E. 13th Ave. for eight years and said she has close to 2,000 roses coming into the store for purchase during Valentine’s Day week. She said bigger stores will have even more.
But a dozen roses isn’t what it used to be, freshman Kennasha Roberson said.
“The idea of roses now tends to be a scapegoat when your significant other makes a boo-boo,” she said. “I basically feel that roses are an excuse for creativity.”
But Roberson added that she would feel more special if she got 12 roses rather than 12
other flowers.
“I know that I said roses lack creativity, but the feeling that you get when you receive them is still amazing,” she said.
Junior Matt Thomsen agreed about the need for more flair, likening roses to a staple food.
“Roses are like rice — they just don’t work alone,” he said. “Something has to accompany it. I think that roses are nice, but you have to add that creativity.”
Lewis sees the scenario a
little differently.
“I don’t think people really pay attention to the variety of different roses there are,” she said. “It’s proven that the amount of women who would prefer non-red roses is in the 87th percentile. We prefer other colors or bi-colored.”
Lewis said technology plays a big part in keeping the symbolic meaning of roses alive. With technology, it is possible to create bi-colored or rare roses, she said.
“Technology is simply enhancing what Mother Nature gave,” Lewis said.
While bi-colored roses are becoming more popular, according to Lewis, single-colored roses still maintain specific meanings.
For instance, the white rose conveys innocence, purity and worthiness, according to roses.com. The red rose suggests love and respect, while red and white roses together symbolize unity. To express friendship rather than pronouncing love, yellow roses are the way to go.
Numbers count, too. Twelve roses are an expression of gratitude, while 50 stand for unconditional love, the Web site stated.