The origins of Valentine’s Day remain vague and open to interpretation. It is believed it started as a romantic reconstruction of the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of spring; it would be a time filled with dance and courtship. It is also associated with a martyred priest by the same name, who’s famously believed to have signed his love letters addressed to his jailer’s daughter as “your Valentine”.
As far as legend goes, the reason it became so commonly known and celebrated is still debated. What we do know for sure is that from the 14th century onwards, on a global scale, we’ve dedicated a whole day to romantic love, filled with heart-shaped presents, flowers, and chocolates as a gesture of appreciation, gratitude, and promise.
At Alexandra Farms, we love to celebrate love, and as long as we can find new ways to show it, there will always be a flower to go with it.
Valentine’s Day is a rather special occasion for florists, for evident reasons, and although it mainly celebrates the love between partners, it’s since been amplified to celebrate friendships and family as well. The many colors love can have and bring, in its many forms and relations, all are perfectly held within the beauty and diversity of a garden rose.
For this special holiday, we want to highlight a variety of floral design ideas that encapsulate the vibrance, delicacy and romance of love in whichever form you celebrate.
------------
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is closely tied to colors like red, pink, and white. As tradition enthusiasts, this arrangement offers a heart-shaped composition with our roses: classical Wanted, vintage and full Romantic Antike, a unique spray rose called Princess Pinku Spr, and the adequately named and adorable Princess Fairy Kiss Pink Spr. It’s accompanied by red ranunculus, pink lisianthus, scabiosa and lilies. This evokes classic and passionate love, with a strong, everlasting color palette and multiple dimensions that enrich the depth of the feeling itself. This fun-loving twist on a floral arrangement makes garden roses stand out, and roses are the core symbol of love and affection.
------------
This next bouquet is a sweeter, tender notion of love, a whimsical blend of the popular and unique Juliet (Ausjameson), soft Princess Hitomi (Beautiful History), a swirling sprinkle of Romantic Antike, Princess Fairy Kiss Pink Spr and our Sky Blue Tweedia for some soft hints of contrast. The fillers used are Matthiola, carnations and scabiosa. This soft and pink take on the international holiday alludes to joy. Equal parts adoring and friendly, like a desire for closeness. Dreamy and ideal for a Valentine’s bridal bouquet or a token of trust to a loved one.
-------------
Valentine’s Day, as a celebration, evolves and grows bigger as we find new ways of loving one another. This centerpiece is bold and modern but never shallow in itself or what it conveys. A bright arrangement featuring the sassy and hardy Hettie (AUSCP17117), the delicate Hybrid Pink Quartz dahlia, and the flashy Princess Aiko put together with lisianthus, orange ranunculus, carnations, eucalyptus and rose apple holds a warm invitation to a party kind of love.
-------------
And lastly, tied up with a red ribbon and all, this elegant and soft bouquet renders a long-lived, appreciated and fulfilled love. Featuring the deep and passionate Tess (Ausyacht), Princess Hitomi, Princess Pinku Spr and Wanted along with fuschia carnations and ranunculus, it’s a perfect depiction of both passion and resilience. Through colors and textures, it awakens a nostalgic feeling. Like something you would present to your beloved in a park while it rains… if life were a romantic movie. A very dreamy example of the power of flowers.
These multitude of colors and choices represent all shapes love can take. It means and looks different for everyone, and our hope is that something of this bunch represents a particular feeling you have for someone special.
At Alexandra Farms, we love to celebrate love, and as long as we can find new ways to show it, there will always be a flower to go with it.