Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, V-Day's next month and I don't know what to send you...

Let's be honest. Valentine's day gets everyone's panties (or briefs!) up in a bunch.  Whether you have a Valentine or not, the pressure's on to send those often overpriced, cheesy arrangements to anyone from a significant other to a sibling. Every year, you commit yourself to doing something different, and every year you get stuck in the roses rut. To your wife, husband, mother, assistant and grandma go twelve long stems, each costing you a fortune and each no different than last year.

Since the Victorian era, bouquets of flowers have been the ultimate way to speak the language of love without every having to utter a word.  So, SSM asked "florist to the stars," Jennifer McGarigle, of FloralArt in Venice, California for tips on choosing the best Valentine's blooms. "Roses are obviously the most popular," Jennifer says, "but sometimes people think that's what they should do when it can be really thoughtful to try something different." Jennifer loves spring's bold flowers with tulips, narcissus, daffodils and hyacinth among some of her favorites. Because these particular flowers are in season around V-Day, they're spectacularly fresh and less expensive than roses. Jennifer also loves to incorporate these lesser-known Valentine options into arrangements with roses, but also feels that it's important to remain relatively monochromatic.

And for those with their Valentine's hearts set on tradition, there are some spectacular varieties of roses from which to pick.

Choose a rose from a pro. Jennifer suggests:

• When looking to show your LOVE opt for a strong, deep red, go for black baccara and freedom
  

• When looking to show your that you are VERY much in LIKE go for a pink, but be careful to avoid "Barbie pink," and choose kiko and diva's raspberry fuchsia tone

• When looking to show your passion and excitement opt for orange and try spicy and milva

• To show that you are SMITTEN choose the perfect blush pink, go for titanic

And if you really want to try something different, think about choosing an arrangement that incorporates a gift such as a bottle of champagne or a fabulous candle. Now that you've got plenty of time and tons of options, you'll have to decide who has your heart. Will it be a sunny daffodil or will you go down with the titanic rose?

Happy Valentine's Day!
    
If you're interested in ordering an arrangement from FloralArt, but don't live in the LA area, visit bbrooks.com.

A. White