“I must have flowers, always, and always.” ~ Claude Monet
Pete and I had a friendly debate this weekend about flowers as gifts. We were having dinner with another family and when he went out to buy wine to take with us, I asked him to pick up flowers too. He did, because I asked him to; otherwise, he thinks that flowers are generally not appreciated by the recipients and that the money spent could have just bought another bottle of wine.
This has been a decades-long debate in our household: If I want flowers, I will buy them for myself, because otherwise I am not getting them. This is not a criticism directed at my husband. He is a generous gift giver and frequently surprises me with little things “just because.” He simply does not appreciate flowers. I, however, adore them and think that an arrangement of flowers is money well spent, even if the pleasure is temporary.
I took this debate to my Facebook page and the discussion there was spirited. Some people think that flowers are not worth the money, while others believe that giving flowers is money well spent. I understand both sides of the argument, but I still like to take flowers as a hostess gift if I can. (And by can, I mean if I remember and if I make the time to either buy some or cut some from my garden.) It is my understanding that giving flowers is a very European habit and that it happens all the time, practically daily.
Where do you stand on this — do you give flowers as a gift or not?
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I, too, buy my own flowers–weekly if it’s in the budget. I think flowers are always appreciated. Pete is wrong on this one.
My husband is forbidden from buying roses because I think that’s a waste of money. He knows I am happy with carnations. They last a lot longer.
I have bought many bouquets of flowers for my daughter.
I stopped having flowers or plants in the house when our latest kitty joined the family. She was eating things she shouldn’t be eating.
I adore getting flowers. They are a delightful, if temporary, decorative touch. Sort of like a throw pillow with a short lifespan, but much, much more beautiful.
well that explains it then. I not only was born in the wrong century/era, but the wrong country too! (something I’ve long known to be true). If you “say it with flowers” then you are extending a gift of yourself—always different flowers. Thought counts. If I could, I would grow a cutting garden….the gift that keeps on giving!
one slightly harried thought I have, when I am bringing flowers either to someone I don’t know that well, or have not been to their house, is whether to bring my bouquet with a vase….always awkward when you show up with a showy bunch of beauty, and the person you’re giving them to looks slightly flustered, like “what do I do with these now?” “where do I put them?”. our local grocery store recently started carrying a very nice (and inexpensive, but not cheap looking) line of vases in their florist section…I would not hesitate now, to pick up one of these vases to include with my bouquet…
I responded on FB, but I have to add that Rob will often get me flowers for no reason. My favorite thing is to get spring flowers, like tulips or daffodils, in Feb when it’s really ugly outside here. Plus, they last a long time in the vase.
Come to think of it, it’ll be February in a few days, and since we have rain on frozen ground, it’s pretty ugly outside. I think some flowers might be just the ticket.
I love giving and receiving flowers anytime.
Bart bought me a gorgeous bouquet yesterday at Costco. I have looked at them and smiled no less than 2 dozen times.
I buy clearance flowers at the grocery store ~ a cute, sweet bouquet for $2.50! Instant happy + not much out of pocket = awesome!
I can only speak from an English point of view and that would be it would be considered “rude” not to give your hostess flowers and if it were a choice of wine or flowers, certainly around here the flowers would win.
I do think it is down to culture and I would never turn up for Dinner without any.
My husband cuts the flowers in our garden and brings them into the house regularly during the warmer weather. (This worked much better in Virginia when we had a huge variety of lovely flowers spring through fall.) Occasionally he purchases flowers at the store and surprises me. Very rarely do I purchase flowers on my own, although I’ve been known to do it. The purchases are a pick-me-up surprise and never expected.
Flowers as a gift? I’ve learned that it’s not how we operate in our own home. I wish I thought about it more, though, when visiting other people. It’s such a lovely gesture.
Mental note: buy more flowers for other people. And yourself.
Mental note part b: plant more cutting flowers in amongst the veggies this summer. You know, so the varmins can’t ett ‘em all up before I get to enjoy them.
When my husband was a commuter he frequently brought home flowers – not so much since those days.
I love fresh flowers and when the garden is blooming I will fill the house. I buy them for myself less frequently these days…but this has reminded me how much I am missing and I think I will buy some this week.
Regularly and with enthusiasm.