The love of flowers, especially the rose, is universal, one of the simple but beautiful things of life that cannot be destroyed even by the mechanization, noise, and overcrowding of modern cities. The poorest home in a city slum will have its geranium, its hollyhock, its cactus or its wallflower, and usually its rose, struggling for existence perhaps, but bravely representing man’s undying love for plants.
Man is a gardener by instinct. However limited may be his opportunity because of restricted area, lack of leisure time, or physical disability, some use is made of the floral gifts that Nature pours out to us so generously.
Some houses and flats have no more than a commonplace shrub, a narrow strip of lawn, or just a window-box or a pot-plant a patch of color contrasting with a drab wall and unimaginative surroundings. Meager as it may be, each is somebody’s garden, and is associated with an apparently inevitable affection for trees that give us shade, lawns that ease our tread and soften the surrounding harshness, and flowers with their wonderful fragrance and beauty.
There is beauty in any garden, small and simple, or large and elaborate. There is beauty in any plant, leaf, or flower-even in those we choose to call ‘weeds’.
The rose has ever been the world’s favorite flower, the pride of the rich and poor the rich because it has no superior, the poor because, despite its superiority, its plants have never been beyond their reach. Easy to grow, lavish with its blooms, adaptable to almost any conditions, the rose is the unchallenged Queen of Flowers.
By careful plant-breeding almost all flowers have been vastly improved in the last century, but the rose has maintained it is pre-eminence to such an extent that no garden seems complete without it, and its blooms are always the most cherished of cut flowers.
There are approximately five thousand varieties of roses being grown today, surely an embarrassment of riches, but the average rosarian surveys a modern catalogue, selects varieties that meet his needs, and is content. It is not the number he grows that matters; it is the pleasure he derives from them.
The origin of the rose is quite prehistoric; geologists tell us of evidence of its existence more than thirty-five million years ago. It is mentioned in many of the earliest writings, and it has been found indigenous to almost every part of the Northern Hemisphere, even to Iceland and Lapland, but never south of the Equator.
The Earliest Roses
All the original roses were five-petalled, but double roses have existed since long before any surviving records were made. These are really freaks, in that many of their stamens have been metamorphosed into petals. The earliest roses are usually referred to as rose species. They vary in color from white to deep pink and dull red, while yellow is represented by the double Rosa hemispherica (R. sulfhured) and, probably of earlier origin, the single JR. foetida (the Yellow Austrian Briar), a very misleading name, for its original habitat was from Crimea to Thibet, far from Austria.
Its companion, R. foetida var. hicolor, is the only bicoloured species, having, in most flowers, petals that are of a deep copper colour on the inner side and vivid yellow on the reverse; in some of its flowers yellow appears in stripes, on half a petal, or even more, in place of the darker colour.
R. centifolia (the Cabbage Rose, Hundred Petalled Rose, or Provence Rose) in the gardens of Midas is described by Herodotus (about 484-425 B.C.), “The Father of History”. Hippocrates (460-361 B.C.), Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), Virgil (70-19 B.C.), Ovid (43 B.c-A.D.17), Horace (65-8 B.C.), and Juvenal (A.D. 60-140) all laud the rose. Omar Khayyam (A.D. 1050-1123) knew R. damascena (the Damask Rose) and it still grows on his grave at Nishapur.
In the House of Frescoes at Knossus, Crete, is the earliest known European depiction of a rose, painted about 1550 B.C. It had six petals instead of the usual five, probably an error.
The love of roses will never die, but will live on to produce and nurture these wonderful flowers.

As many of us know Valentine?s Day is considered as a special day for lovers. On this day lovers usually give various gifts to express their feelings. The most well known gifts for Valentine?s Day includes chocolates and flowers. While roses are thought of as being one of the Valentine flowers there are others that you can choose.

The other Valentine flowers include carnations, iris, tulips, lilies, daffodils and even daisies. The reason why some people will choose carnations to give as Valentine flowers is because of their rich, heady and spicy scent. The smell of cloves and the many dainty petals of the carnation all seem to convey the idea that these beautiful flowers are ideal to have as a symbol of love.

The Iris is also chosen as one of the many Valentine flowers. Its long stems open to show graceful and colorful flowers. You can place these flowers next to some fragrant baby?s breath flowers to frame the spectacular coloring of the iris flowers.

Of course even with these different flowers many people still prefer sending red roses as Valentine flowers. Red roses are considered to be the symbol of true love and many women love the idea of being presented with a bouquet of long stemmed (no thorns) red roses.

Red roses are not the only roses that are sent for Valentine?s Day. In fact you could send a bouquet of white, pink and red roses as a Valentine flower gift. Roses are sent not just because they are the symbol of true love but also because they have a gorgeous scent as well.

For the person who wants to give different flowers for Valentine?s Day tulips are the ideal choice. These graceful cup shaped flowers come in many beautiful shades so that even a few of these flowers mixed in with other flowers like carnations and daffodils will definite show how you feel.

Besides sending real flowers for Valentine?s Day you can select silk Valentine flowers instead. These flowers have the advantage of looking real without causing you or anyone else allergies.

As a result there are people who buy silk Valentine flowers when they want the flowers to last for a time. In addition to sending silk flowers your Valentine flowers can be in the form of scented and shaped candles.

The next time that you are looking to buy Valentine flowers you should see the many different flowers like daffodils, carnations, iris, tulips, daisies and even lilies that you can buy for that special Valentine bouquet. These flowers, candles, silk flowers and chocolates that are bought for Valentine?s Day are all reminders of what this special day means for lovers.

There?s no doubt that the appeal of roses have stood the test of time, and perhaps we can find an explanation for this through Greek mythology. The minor Greek goddess Chloris came across a dead nymph and she was so taken aback by her beauty that she turned her into a flower. Aphrodite infused the new flower with beauty, the three Graces donated brilliance, joy, and charm, Dionysius added sweet fragrance, and the West win Zephyrus blew the clouds away so Apollo could bathe the rose in sunlight. The rose was then given to Eros, the god of love, and finally the Queen of flowers was born.?? Its intricate meanings make the rose a favorite gift of lovers and romantics. However, the red rose isn?t the only kind of rose that conveys the message of passionate love. The Narangha rose is an orange rose variety that connotes instant attraction and intense emotions with its smooth, vivid petals. Naranghas have hints of yellow and pink at the base of its large, blossoming head, and its rich warm colors contrast beautifully with its glossy green leaves. Long sturdy stems growing at an average of 60 centimeters characterize these flowers.? What makes this flower extra special is that its buds blossom to a full bloom in a short amount of time. This means that everyday, one can see its beautiful bud in different blooming stages ? a special treat for someone who is given this beautiful flower. Its soft, slightly fruity perfume also makes it a favorite of women everywhere. The best thing is, the Narangha rose variety is available in many major flowers shops and rose growers.The flower?s namesake is the Philippine word for ?orange? ? very fitting for a culture that knows how to love and love passionately. Romantic love for Filipinos is serious business. As early as the courtship stage, Philippine men spoil their women by showering them with ardent poetry, love songs, and of course, flowers. All these grand, romantic gestures indicate how much they are willing to care and nurture the woman in their life. It is no wonder that the Narangha variety is the most popular orange colored flower in the Philippines.A bouquet of long stemmed orange roses with subtle hints of pink is sure to bring a strong message of fervent romance and devotion. Why not brighten up your lover?s day by surprising her with a dazzling Narangha rose?