Valentine’s Day also ranks second only to Christmas for greeting card sales, but Mother’s Day sells more flowers than Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day, as we know it, has its romantic roots in a poem about “Valentines” by 14th Century English writer Geoffrey Chaucer, best known for “Canterbury Tales.” During that period, the concept of “courtly love” developed in which a man performed acts of bravery and chivalry for the woman he loved.
Today, Valentine’s Day is a $19 billion industry when flowers, cards, romantic dinners, and candy are lavished on the love of our life. One other interesting statistic: More than half of women surveyed said they would consider ending a relationship if their partner forgot to give them a Valentine’s Day gift.
Use flowers every day to brighten your house. You don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to bring joyful color to your home. Flowers are one of the easiest, least expensive and most versatile decorating resources available.
- Annual flowers bloom once per year and die at the end of their season. Perennial flowers return year after year. In your flower beds experiment with both, using perennials such as lantana for a foundation bloom, and mixing a variety of annuals to change up the look year by year.
- Plant cascading flowers such as Mandevilla or Petunias in a standing pot by the front door, giving a welcome greeting to visitors. Inside, use a vase of gorgeous tulips or a basket of geraniums to bring an explosion of color to any room of the home.
