Our Roses
At the bottom of this page is a partial selection of the roses we
have shipped to us directly from the growers in Ecuador.
Rose Info Quick Links
Origin and History
Sentiment and Symbolism
Colour Messages
Single Colour Meanings
Combined Colour Meanings
Rose Care and Tips
Types of Roses
Origin & History
Fossil evidence shows that roses have existed since prehistoric
times. The first cultivated roses appeared in Asian gardens more
than 5,000 years ago. Roses were introduced to Europe during the
Roman Empire, where they were mainly used for ornamental purposes.
Cleopatra is said to have scattered rose petals before Mark
Anthony's feet; Nero released roses from the ceiling during
extravagant feasts and banquets.
Sentiment &
Symbolism
Roses, it is said, blushed with shame as God expelled Adam and
Eve out of the Garden of Eden. According to Roman legend, a number
of suitors were keen on marrying a beautiful woman named Rodanthe,
but she did not care for any of them. Despite her ambivalence, the
suitors continued to woo Rodanthe so zealously that they broke
through the doors of her home. Angered by their actions and wanting
to teach the suitors a lesson, the goddess Diana turned Rodanthe
into a rose, and her suitors into thorns.
The rose is the flower emblem of England. According to English
superstition, if the petals fall from a fresh-cut red rose, bad luck
will soon follow. The red rose is the badge of the House of
Lancaster and the flower of Eros and Cupid. In Wales, the white rose
represents innocence and silence, and is thus placed on the grave of
a young child. To Native Americans, the white rose symbolizes
security and happiness, and is often worn during wedding ceremonies.
The white rose is the badge of the House of York and the flower of
the Virgin Mary.
Colour Messages
Exquisite and radiant, the rose is the principal messenger of
love. A single rose denotes perpetual love; two roses of any color
taped or wired together signify a commitment or forthcoming
marriage.
Single Colour Meanings
-
Red roses of any hue say "I love
you"; deep red roses imply unconscious beauty.
-
White roses signify spiritual love
and purity; bridal white means happy love.
-
Today, yellow roses signify joy and
gladness; historically, they meant a decrease of love and
infidelity.
-
Coral roses imply desire; orange say
"I am fascinated and enthusiastic."
-
Lavender roses mean love at first
sight
-
Light pink roses imply grace,
gentility and admiration; dark pink roses say "thank you."
-
In general, pale-coloured roses
signify friendship.
Combined Colour
Meanings
-
Red and yellow roses mixed together
say "Congratulations!"
-
Yellow and orange roses together
imply passionate thoughts.
-
Red and white roses signify
unity.
Rose Care and Tips
-
Remove any water vials which may
have been shipped with your roses. These provide only a temporary
water source during delivery. However, do not remove floral wires
which may have been attached to individual rose stems. These
provide helpful support for some roses.
-
Remove any leaves which will be
below water, being careful not to scrape or cut through the green
bark of the stems. Air may enter stems at such injuries, blocking
water uptake. Leaves left under water will cause
bacteria to develop and will significantly shorten the life of
your roses.
-
Prepare a deep vase or other
container with an ample supply of lukewarm water. Avoid water from
a water softener. Be sure to use a clean container, and, for best
results, include floral preservative, if provided. Mix the
preservative with room temperature water, in the proportion
recommended on the package. Floral preservative provides sugars,
balances pH, and limits bacterial growth.
-
Fill a sink or wide container with
several inches of warm water. While holding each stem under water,
cut about one inch diagonally off the end with a sharp knife or
shears. Place the roses in your container before the stems dry
off.
-
Gently remove any outermost petals
which may have been bruised during shipping. Removing a few petals
will not damage a blossom and will often help it open more
fully.
-
Display your roses in a cool
location, out of direct sunlight or drafts, and away from
electrical appliances (for safety and to avoid heat.) Then, check
your arrangement daily to make sure it has plenty of clear, fresh
water. If the water appears dirty after a couple of days, replace
it completely.
-
If some roses should start to droop
their heads prematurely, it may be due to air trapped in the
stems. Recut the stems underwater as described above. Then, let
the roses float on the water surface with the stem ends below
water and the rose heads in a straightened position. In many
cases, the roses will revive and harden within about an hour,
ready to be returned to your arrangement.
-
Avoid keeping your roses near fresh
fruit. Ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas which will
significantly reduce the life of your roses.
-
If your roses remain tight and are
not blooming, recut them as described above and place them into
hot (not boiling) water. You may also place a paper or
plastic bag over the roses for an hour or two to encourage the
roses to bloom.
-
Many varieties of roses now bloom
very quickly (such as the Bluebird rose) but will stay open
anywhere from 5 to 10
days. |
