Gather and Nest

The rose.

I used to be very anti-red-rose, especially around valentine’s day.

In my past life as a florist I would try to persuade my customers to get something else. Why? Holiday price inflation, slightly lower quality due to the high demand, a little boring and completely expected. There were many other options. I hated that men stood in long lines at my door  to pick up their half dozens or dozens to bring home to their sweethearts because they ‘had to’. (1. Yes, mostly men shopped on the big V day and 2. I’m not complaining about the business, just the lack of imagination and the fact that maybe those men should pick up flowers on any old Tuesday to show their special someone how much they care.)

“Sorry, I don’t sell baby’s breath, let me put it with something better,” was my line of the day.

Enough ranting. That was many years ago.

Lately I have been sort of craving red roses. I had to give in.

So here it is days before Valentine’s day, and I found myself at a flower shop buying a bunch of dark, velvety sweetheart roses that open up so lovely. Interesting textured ‘fillers’ give roses a whole different feel.

I still feel the same way about flowers given on Valentine’s Day. But as for the red rose, I think I have fallen back in love.

At least for now.