Giving love through flowers
The Gardener's Corner
By Judith Rogers
Must, bid the Morn awake! Sad winter now declines, Each bird doth choose a mate; This day's Saint Valentine's. For that good bishop's sake Get up and let us see What beauty it shall be That fortune us assigns.

A red rose is the symbol of love and desire.

-Michael Drayton

Nothing says "I love you" better than a bouquet of fresh flowers. Roses are the flower for love and purity, and red roses signify love and desire in the language of flowers. For Valentine's Day, red roses outsell any other flower but carnations or mixed bouquets make a beautiful and fragrant gift as well.

When a bouquet is received, prepare a clean vase filled with lukewarm water and the floral preservative included from the florist. Remove any leaves that will be below the water where bacteria can form and with roses, remove the lower third that will be above the water too. Roses lose moisture through their stems and leaves and by doing this, less evaporation will take place and allow the roses to last longer.

A photo of the Only You bouquet.

Recut the stem of each flower under water which will prevent air pockets from forming and blocking the uptake of water; recut the stems every three days.

Top up the water in the vase daily and change it every few days. If additional floral preservative is needed, make your own by adding a quarter of a cup of sugar to feed the flowers, and one teaspoon of bleach to control bacteria in one gallon of water.

If a rose is starting to wilt before fully opening, the stem could be clogged with bacteria or an air bubble may have formed, preventing water from travelling up the stem. Recut about an inch off the bottom and float the whole rose in some warm water until it starts to perk up.

Daffodils need to stand in a vase alone for at least six hours after cutting the ends, before adding them to other flowers. They secrete a sap from the cut end, so do not recut or the sap will flow again. That sap is harmful to other flowers, especially tulips.

Tulips are a real wonder, as they continue to grow towards the strongest light after they are cut and put in a vase. The stems can be recut more often to keep them at a better height for the vase or for the length of other flowers around them. To keep the stems straight, wrap the bunch in newspaper while preparing the vase and then include a few drops of liquid starch or gin in the water.

Valentine flowers can be preserved by drying them with the stems tied together and hanging the bouquet upside down in a warm, dry place. The flower heads and colour will remain intact to be used later in floral arrangements, wreaths or craft projects.