Rose Bouquet

What's in a rose, you ask? Well, a rose is never 'just a rose'. Roses have always had so many meanings and overtones, no wonder they are considered 'the queen of flowers'. There's no question that the red rose stands for love, the white for purity or innocence, the yellow for admiration, the black rose for mourning and so on. Exchanging roses as a means of deep, silent communication began in the Victorian period, when young people of the time had to devise subtle ways to express their heart's desire. Suitors would present a rose bouquet to their intended and the bouquet would take on a lot of significance once the beloved gazed upon the rose bouquet. From then on, the courtship would be 'punctuated' by various kinds of bouquets, culminating in the bride carrying the most significant bouquet as she walked down the aisle on her wedding day.

Rose bouquets come in various colors, combinations and numbers. There is the long stemmed rose bouquet, the nosegay bouquet, the cascading bouquet, the loose-tied rose bouquet, the round cluster bouquet and so many others. Long stemmed pink, red or white roses look absolutely stunning when they are combined with calla lilies in the Arm bouquet. The Arm bouquet is designed to be held in the arm and a loosely tied ribbon or lace keeps the bouquet tied together. Another wonderful bouquet is the freeform bouquet, which as the name suggests, has no discernible shape. This bouquet is generally made with roses of one kind or another. The presentation bouquet can be as simple or as elaborate as one wishes. Roses in different shades look stunning in this formation. The all-white rose bouquet can be made of white roses, while cream or yellow roses along with white Callas lilies, lace, ribbons and greenery makes the cascading bouquet look very graceful.

Roses can be used for any occasion. A bouquet of red roses obviously stands for love. A bouquet of white roses stand for unity, the bouquet of orange roses express admiration, while a bouquet of yellow roses express friendship. Pink roses express friendship and love. Red and yellow flowers together stand for joviality and happiness. When two roses are wired together to form a single stem, it indicates a forthcoming engagement or union of two people. And I have not heard of a bouquet of black roses yet.

Since roses look beautiful and have a great fragrance, they really are a pleasure when they are arranged in a vase or put together in a bouquet. The pure white bouquet carried by a bride when she walks down the isle speaks of her purity. Rose bouquets are popular for one more reason. Roses being so easily available at all times of the year are most favored because of their easy availability.

When you buy a rose bouquet, there are certain things to keep in mind. Buy buds that have opened partially. These flowers are just beginning to open and will stand for a longer time. NEVER buy a bouquet made of tightly closed buds. These flowers have been picked too early and may never open. If they do open, they will fade quickly too. Organic rose bouquets are a healthy choice. These have been cultured and grown without the use of any chemical fertilizers or insecticides and pesticides. These are of course costlier too. Rose bouquets will last for 7-10 days depending upon the variety of rose you have. Keep the stem immersed in water for an hour to keep the roses alive for a longer period. Change the water once every 4 days. Keep the bouquet away from strong drafts or sunshine.

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