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Why Do We Give Roses On Valentine’s Day?
“Oh, my love’s like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June.”
The poet Robert Burns coined that verse in 1794, and it has been recited and sung among lovers ever since, a confession of enduring devotion and beauty. Burns continues to say that the love will last until all the seas go dry. Earlier, William Shakespeare compared his character Juliet to a sweet-smelling rose in that famous play. The flower, particularly a red rose, has long been considered a symbol of passion and romance, embraced by poets and lovers.
Thus, on Valentine’s Day, the gift of a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses or a rosebush planted in your lover’s garden expresses your heart’s desire. Valentine’s Day is filled with lots of traditions, including the exchange of cards and boxes of chocolate, but red roses – sometimes arranged with a hint of baby’s breath – are a romantic staple.
The flower grew in popularity during the Victorian era in England, where Valentine’s Day had long been associated with romantic love. The poet Geoffrey Chaucer first associated the holiday with romance in a poem for King Richard II in 1382.
But the poet Edmund Spenser is credited with the most common Valentine’s sentiment, “Roses are red,” first suggesting it in his work “The Faerie Queene.”
The Language of Roses
Centuries of cultural tradition, particularly from Europe, have used flowers, their colors and arrangements to send private messages, a sort of code called “floriography” or the language of flowers. Regarding roses, different colors of buds communicate different intentions from the sender.
- Red symbolizes love and romance
- White suggests innocence and purity
- Pink means grace, gratitude, admiration and joy
- Yellow suggests friendship
- Orange suggests enthusiasm
According to some, the number of roses you give can send a specific romantic message.
Love at first sight is suggested by one rose. Two means there is a shared, deep love. Three roses indicate the three words “I love you.” Six roses tells someone that you want them. Seven roses confess an infatuation. Nine roses symbolize an eternal love.
Thus, the blooms you send can communicate a variety of loves, so a gift of roses on Valentine’s Day is suitable for friends and family, not just your paramour.
How To Tend Your Roses
There are many types of roses – around 150 species and lots of hybrids, so they come in a variety of shapes and colors. All of them are considered shrubs.
Growing a rose garden on your lawn doesn’t have to be a stressful undertaking, so long as you mind the thorns. Proper planting and care of a new rose bush should be easy for nearly everyone.
First, select a site that receives at least six hours of sun a day, and plant the roses in well-drained and fertile soil. Plant dormant roses in early spring or fall to get the best results. If you’re planting bare root roses, soak them in water for 24 hours before putting them in the ground.
Once planted, roses require an inch of water weekly throughout their growing season. Overhead watering is OK before new growth, yet it might be best to water the bushes at the soil line using hoses or something similar. Fertilizer for roses should be applied in the spring, too.
Rose bushes can catch fungal diseases, such as black spot and mildew, especially if they’re kept too wet, so be careful. Pruning your roses also helps with their maintenance. That takes place once leaf buds appear come spring. Make cuts about a quarter inch above the bud eyes. Prune out any twiggy or unhealthy branches.
Care for your roses should result in beautiful flowers for years, enduring for as long as your love will.
If you determine that self-care of your rose garden has you feeling overwhelmed, do not hesitate to contact us here at LawnCare.Net. We can connect you with lawn care experts in your area that provide multiple services and care plans to fit the needs of your outdoor space.