Are you spreading the love this February? Valentine’s Day is a day where you show your love and appreciation for your significant other. People even give their family members, coworkers, and neighbors a gift on this holiday. Valentine’s Day gifts traditionally include boxes of chocolate, jewelry, plush toys, and flowers and roses. It could be argued, but it’s generally agreed, that a brilliant bouquet of red roses is the perfect way to declare feelings of romantic love. But why? Where did the tradition of giving roses as a gift come from and why is it mostly associated with Valentine’s Day?

Native to the United States, the oldest fossilized rose imprint was found in Florissant, Colorado. Scientists believe the rose is about 35 million years old! The ancient Greeks associated roses with the Goddess Aphrodite, the Goddess of love. According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite was believed to be the creator of the rose, and created the rose out of the blood of her lover Adonis mixed with her tears after Adonis was fatally wounded while hunting. The mixture gave birth to a beautiful red flower that we know today as a red rose.

In any culture, roses have a story or legend about them and the recurring theme is that they symbolize love, affection, and desire, but the sole reason to why is virtually unknown. Valentine’s Day is celebrated by showing appreciation of loved ones, so it makes sense that roses, would be associated with this holiday. Most people consider the rose to be one of the prettiest flowers across the globe and the best gifts are often the prettiest ones.

The bulk of our roses will not arrive until early March. We will have the widest selection of modern hybrid roses in the area. Shop from our list of roses available HERE.

Written by milbergers