Roses hold a pretty special place in the human heart. From the Red and White of the Wars of the Roses to “The Yellow Rose of Texas” to Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier to Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo, there can be no doubt that roses hold a special place in the popular imagination. Robert Burns famously stated “O my Luve is like a red, red rose.” Shakespeare’s Juliet passionately declares “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” and to this day we see roses as symbols of beauty, prestige, and romance alike.
Why it Matters
When you give the gift of a rose or carnation, you’re giving more than just a pretty gift. You’re giving a tribute which has hundreds, even thousands of years’ worth of prestige and power behind it. Roses can say and mean so much, and nothing says love quite like a carnation and rose bouquet.
Buying Roses
Even from those above examples, it’s clear that there are many different types and colors of flowers, each of which have their own special connotation. Want to show off your burning passion? Try a “red, red rose.” Looking for something a bit more elegant and understated? White roses are not only quite classy, but if you’re looking to wear it, they also go well with quite a few different ensembles. Yellow roses are especially popular in the American South, while purple roses can be seen as a bit rarer.
And, of course, you can always mix and match to put together a carnation and rose bouquet for everything from a proposal to a wedding to an anniversary, Valentine’s Day, and so much more!
Roses and carnations can mean so much. Find the right flowers to convey the meaning you wish to express, and make your floral arrangements and expressions all the more magnificent.
