Ordering Flowers on Valentine's Day

Roses are more expensive at Valentine's Day. It's true. Supply and demand means that growers need to supply more roses than usual. To do this they:
- Force roses to grow faster, increasing costs
- Cut and hold roses for later supply

The flower shops need more roses than usual so they may:
- Place large orders early-on with wholesalers
- Order from more than one source
- Order new or unusual varieties

The cost increase originates with the grower due to supply and demand, not with the intent to take advantage.
Flower shops raise their price for roses and some other flowers to keep pace with the rise in cost to them.

Is the quality of roses generally lower at Valentine's Day? Perhaps, as an overall rule.
Are all roses lower in quality at this time? No.

How do you make sure you get the high-quality roses for Valentine's Day? Follow one or more of these suggestions.

1) Establish a relationship with a reputable, local florist with consistent standards.

2) Just because you order early, doesn't mean your order will be completed first and before the rose supply potentially dwindles. The orders to be done are usually organized into categories that have nothing to do with when they were ordered, so you will need to "flag" your order in a different way. Ask, for instance, that the roses to be used for your order be selected and marked sold. If you do order early, check back about 5 days ahead of your delivery date to confirm.

3) Call to find out when their rose shipments are arriving. Call back after they have arrived and ask which ones are the nicest. They won't know until they see them. Ask them to hold them for your order.

4) Be flexible in your color choice. Sometimes the more unusual colors are better.

5) Order "long-stem" roses. This is what most high-quality shops offer. The heads on these are generally more developed. Even if you are asking for a short, compact style, ask that the "long-stem" roses be used.

6) If you have developed a relationship with one of the designers who does the actual work because you order often, all the better for you. Ask that that designer do your order or, if you can, speak to them directly about it.

7) Another way to highlight your order is to ask for a special vase. Florists do make up many, many vases of roses ahead of time. They must do this in order to keep up with demand, but, from a reputable shop, they are all very lovely and fresh. They pull these for orders as they are filled. To get a bit more attention to your order, instead of the vase they usually use for their roses, you might ask for a different (usually more expensive) kind. Perhaps a fancy, ceramic vase would be nice, or a higher-quality, clear or colored glass vase.

But, I'll give you my opinion. I say, "not".

So often I will put together a vase of roses and admire how beautiful they are. When I have to add Babies Breath to it, I find it changes the whole look. Rather than the elegance it had before, it now seems cluttered, old-fashioned and cliche to me. If you want to add something to your vase of roses, I suggest asking what specially "fillers" your florist has to offer. Very often these are more interesting and complimentary options. A pink, airy Limonium or a Heather, for instance, will add a romantic look. Other options you may hear are: Waxflower, Alstromeria, Queen Anne's Lace or specialty greens like ivy, bear grass or lily grass. Consider these options for something different.

Around Valentines Day, florists will have a good selection of things you can add to your flower order. These are usually very good chocolates, wine, champagne, candles and more. They are usually worth it. Florists hand-select what they will be offering and they want to represent their "brand" in a positive light and maintain their reputation. They will have chosen good options for you and it will enhance your order. It's being delivered right to the door and adding more items will not increase your delivery cost. You may as well add a few more things to go with the flowers to add to the excitement of receiving a hand-delivered gift. And, it will set your order apart from others, potentially offering it more and better attention in the design and delivery rooms.

What about adding a bag of petals. Nice touch!

Many photos are offered to represent options for arrangements you can order. You can scroll through hundreds of pictures of arrangements and pick something, if you wish.

In order to get the best quality, do not do this.

Arrangements matching photos for holidays are made up, completely or partially, ahead of time--sometimes weeks ahead. Instead, order something just for you. No pictures. You can even ask for something called "designer's choice" and leave it at that. You may specify color, type of flowers or style. Designers love to see an "open" order like this. It means they can use their creativity. Designers will not have to pull a pre-made arrangement for you or find the flowers to match a photo, even if they happen to not be the best quality. Instead, they will choose the flowers they think are the best and most interesting. You WILL get a better product.

There are several things to consider as you choose what to send to your sweetheart. Many people think of roses as the ultimate, romantic gift. You may want to tiptoe your way around your intended recipient to see how they feel. If roses are IT for them, don't hesitate. Get them the roses!

On the other hand, you may find they have another favorite flower. If you can place an order for a large vase of lilies, for instance, or iris, your order will definitely stand out at the shop. The more unusual your flower request, the more you will stand out. And, the more likely it will be that your flowers will be fresh, beautiful and given special attention. This doesn't mean that the roses won't be, too. We are talking odds here. One last note on this: be sure to take the florist's advice on flower availability. If they tell you that the flowers you want are not looking their best right now or are hard to get, believe them and make another choice.

If you wanted to order something special, what are your options? Here are some great ideas:

1) Orchids: There are many varieties of orchids and not all are expensive. A vase of a dozen Dendrobium orchids would likely be less than a dozen roses. And, you will have something unique and exotic. How about mixing a variety of kinds of orchids together. You can even add some to a vase of roses. They look lovely together.

2) Calla Lilies: These are a very popular flower with brides right now. The small and medium sized callas come in a variety of colors and are an elegant alternative to roses.

3) Stargazer Lilies: These are the ever-popular large, fragrant lily with a pink center, but don't ask for Stargazers now. They are not commonly available anymore. Newer, more beautiful varieties have emerged. Ask for pink oriental lilies. Remember, they are VERY fragrant and may be too much for some people. But, they are show-stoppers.

4) Gerbera (or Gerber) Daisys: Another very popular flower, especially among those who like something fun and bright, these are single, large, daisy-shaped flowers. A big vase full of mixed colors is impressive, especially for the younger crowd. They are always available.

5) Anthurium: An exotic, tropical flower shaped like a heart. Very hardy in reds, burgundy, white and even green.