What's your favorite pick-me-up flower?
It snowed like crazy the other day, again, and the bright grey sky and slushy grey streets got to me.
I needed to get some flowers to perk up my apartment. I rarely buy flowers for myself, since it's a waste of money and they die. Quickly. And my fiance is great about bringing some pretty tulips home every now and again. But this was an emergency - winter doldrums were setting in and I was having a friend over for dinner! I headed out to find a cheap solution to a dreary problem. To the grocery store!
Perusing the pitiful grocery store selection, I almost came away empty handed:
Roses are for romantic occasions. Reject.
The Gerber daisy is beautiful, lasts a long time, but it just doesn't look like it occurred in nature. Reject.
Carnations: Not appropriate, ever. For anything. They remind me of junior high school proms and funerals. Reject.
Lilies, the kind at the grocery store, are magnificent but I'm a little allergic to the smell. Reject.
Tiny flowering potted plants - like violets or something - looked interesting but unfortunately I have a track record of killing such lovely plants. Reject.
Finally - what's that there in the corner?? Hiding from view? Daffodils!! YES! They're bright, cheery, and sunny! AND - they were on SALE! Done, and done!
It totally worked - I've been smiling at these lovelies for about 4 days now, and they are smiling back!
What's your favorite pick-me-up flower??
Cheers, Lara
Comments
As you may have figured out from my name, I love flowers. My favorite is the iris. My least favorite is the carnation. Whenever I buy flowers for someone from a florist, I always say "NO CARNATIONS". I have never felt that buying flowers is a waist of money. They add so much warmth to a room. And as you say, they are an inexpensive pick me up.
My garden is arranged so that I have something blooming all summer long. I have bulbs for the spring and perennials for the summer and fall.
I Also LOVE the Iris. close second is the tulip.
I like gerbera daisy's for when I'm feeling down. I know they look like they don't occur in nature, but they're so cheerful! :) I also really love tulips and those brightly dyed orchids.
Calla Lillies! Always! My husband brought home flowers for me tonight and I am not sure what some of them are but they are pretty!
Tulips - a reminder of spring in all this gloomy weather!!!
Gerber daisies.
"They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower? "
- Meg Ryan's character Kathleen Kelly in "You've Got Mail"
Gerber daisies are the friendliest. Their big and pink and look happy.
My pick me up flower is the Mandevilla, pink and yellow though they are hard to find sometimes and not until May/June where I live
Tulips
Roses are good, especially if you grow
them yourself. I also love giant
zinnas. If you have the space and time,
you should grow them yourself. It's
very rewarding.
A couple of years ago, I began seeing a flower in the markets, called alstromeria, or Peruvian lily. It is very inexpensive, comes in many bright and cheery colors, and lasts a phenomenal ammount of time. I live up North, and a bouquet of these really helps me get through the lingering days of cold and gray.
I love pansies and daisies, they make me smile and the pansies have the cutest little faces. And I have to agree with Meg Ryan's character,daisies are the friendliest flowers.
