I passed florist this morning. The smell was particularly sweet. Spring is the time for the best flowers. A male co-worker of mine was talking about how the girl he’s seeing has hinted that she loves flowers, but he is clueless on how to give them. For all those out there who are confused at the art of giving and receiving flowers, here’s a little guide for you.

First many wonder what is the appropriate floral arrangement for each type of relationship. While there are no absolute rules, there are certainly some guidelines. Red roses symbolize passion and romance for instance. Here’ some guidelines:

• Red roses should be used sparingly. They are appropriate only on Valentine’s Day and a special occasion where both parties are overtly agree the theme of the evening is passion. Red roses are not for “just because.”
• For a new lover or a friend who you are showing romantic interest in try Hot Pinks, Oranges, Reds, and Yellows. This arrangement suggest fun and passion without insisting on romance. What’s awesome here is that if she is interested she can take it romantically, if she isn’t interested you can always deny that you meant it that way.
• Flower gifts for long term romantic partners require more a more nuanced approach. Presumably there will be multiple flower exchanges over the years, you can’t give the same ones every time. Variety is important. You should know what her favorite flowers are. (If you don’t know, go ask!)
• Platonic friend flowers should have a “I was just picked these” feeling. It’s weird to plan too far ahead with “just a friend” so keep it spontaneous. The arrangement should be more fun and silly. Maybe even collage flowers that don’t match.
• Garden-y flowers for mothers, grandmas, and any very important women in your life. Colors with softer pastel hues with a lot of green in it will show your affection.

For Mom