Carriage House Florist   

Some people dismiss flowers as old-fashioned, but the truth is that, in general, women adore them, and men are secretly pleased and flattered when someone presents them with a stylish arrangement or a flower gift basket. If you see yourself as a romantic person, find excuses to give flowers as often as possible.

Flowers are such a vibrant expression of Nature's beauty that it's rare to find a single human being who doesn't respond to them. Not only do they come in every color of the rainbow, from the most vibrant purples to the subtlest of pastels, but their shapes vary dramatically, from the sculptured beauty of a rose to the cartoon-like forms of the bird of paradise and the sunflower. And as well as stimulating our visual senses, their scents are the source of every perfume in existence.

You can give flowers for any occasion. A dozen long-stemmed red roses will always say 'I love you' no matter how much we might consider them a cliché. Daisies and gerberas, especially those in electric colors, will brighten anyone's day. And a single boxed rose can be as welcome a gift as a large or expensive flower gift basket.

Men as well as women respond to the gift of flowers. The type of flower arrangement you choose should have more to do with a person's personality than their gender. Try native or exotic flowers if you want to steer clear of the 'pretty' varieties. Most florists offer stark, stylish arrangements that are suitable for both sexes.

And feel free to get creative with your choices. You can work with your local florist to create something original and spectacular.