Name Flower

[threemonkeys]

Another day, another new experience. At work today I got given flowers today. More specifically, I was given a dozen red roses. Nobody has ever given me flowers before - except possibly ones made of sugar. Before you get any ideas, they were a delivery from the recruitment agency who placed me at my new job. It is common practice for them to send a card or the like, but flowers? To me? My co-workers were amused and bemused. I tried to give the bunch away, but didn't get any takers until we broke the bunch up and distributed the blooms individually. Most took one as a joke - a lot of clenching in teeth went on.

I've never really seen the appeal in bunches of flowers. OK, they look nice in a garden, but cut they are just dead things. The others around work were pretty ambivalent. I sort of expected it from the guys - expecting some sort of sex linked response thing. But the women were pretty much unimpressed too. General consensus was that a bottle of wine would have been a much better gift.

But somebody must like flowers or they wouldn't get sold. Perhaps it isn't the flowers as such but the symbolism involved. How about you? Do you like to give/receive flowers?

Comments

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I like flowers. I'm always thrilled if I get some.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Given you taste in trinkets, I'm curious about whether plastic ones (or other more exotic materials - wood, ceramic, titanium) have any appeal, or do they have to be real?

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

I never did till I came to Fiji. I hate the way flowers die within a few days; it makes me feel guilty. The flowers here are incredible, and I can get a bunch at the market for three bucks. They last for at least two weeks, then they get planted in the garden. So I like flowers here.

I never like receiving a bunch, though. I think they cost too much money and I never know what to do with them.

I hate it in restaurants (do they even do this anymore?) when they go around with a basket and try to sell you a stem for a heap of money.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

When you say plant, do you mean to grow or to compost?

I've only ever seen the flower selling in restaurants once and that was on Valentines day.

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

To grow! Our housekeeper has a wonderfully green thumb, and she loves to plant everything.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Amazing - but then I always think of Fiji as the sort of place constantly in danger of being overrun with wild growth.

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

That's what it's like. You could throw tomato seeds out the window and a plant would grow.

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

Real is best

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

As in most things.

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

so true

[seraphs-folly.livejournal.com]

I'm something of a girly girl -- I love a bunch of flowers for the smell and the beauty. They die on the plant too you know! Might as well enjoy them ;)

Tradtionally I keep a bunch of white christmas lillies in my home - they make me feel connected to my girlfriend even though she is far away - they are her favourites.

[seraphs-folly.livejournal.com]

Plus... I think theres the power of association. If over years your loved ones have given you flowers to say thanks, thinking of you, and/or I love you then you eventually associate a bunch of blooming goodness with the sentiments expressed even if you give them to yourself.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I think you are right on with this. Flowers do seem to have very strong associations. That may have something to do with their smell - we do strongly associate smells with memories often on a subconscious level.

Actually, that might explain why women are more likely to appreciate flowers more - on average, women have a better sense of smell than men.

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

But somehow I feel like I've killed them if they die in my house!

I don't have floral associations. Mine are more with things like candlesticks and other gifts people have given me.

[ang-grrr.livejournal.com]

I love flowers. They cheer me up and I try and keep a bunch in the house at all times. Of course, as I write this, I look across and see that my bunch of roses is pretty much dead.

It's a strange thing to send to someone you don't know. Oh, and I'd send flowers to a man but I'd be careful of a) what flowers and b) what man. :)

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

It's a strange thing to send to someone you don't know. Oh, and I'd send flowers to a man but I'd be careful of a) what flowers and b) what man. :)

I have this suspicion that the recruitment agency ticked the wrong box - F rather than M. It does seem strange otherwise. My workmates did make comments about my metrosexual vibe, but somehow I don't think they were serious. :-)

[mundens.livejournal.com]

I think giving the dead sexual organs of plants to people is an extremely strange custom. Only dirtsiders could consider it, especially as the biomass is then wasted.

Can you guess I've been reading books with space stations in them ?

Seriously, if you're going to give plants why not give live ones?

Personally I prefer chocolates or similar treats.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Personally I prefer chocolates or similar treats.

Or, I'm guessing, alcohol.

[seraphs-folly.livejournal.com]

"Seriously, if you're going to give plants why not give live ones?"

Thats also a very special gesture :)

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I love flowers, but won't buy them for myself very often.

What's really funny is that when people give me plants, I kill them (I am very ungreenthumbish) but if I get given a bunch of flowers I can keep them looking decent for ages. My record is a bunch of carnations that looked nice for 39 days.

My heritage doesn't have any mournful associations for flowers at all - we only give them on nice occasions.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I didn't even think of the mourning associations of flowers. We don't really use them that way in our family either.

[dalmeny]

dmw and I have bought each other flowers. We both like them, although now that we have our own garden we tend not to buy them.

But I'd still find it odd to get roses from an agency, because of the strong romantic associations.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

They must really like me a lot I guess ;-)

[michaelchance.livejournal.com]

I like getting flowers :) Wine would have wasted a bit one me, as I don't drink much and a lot of the bottle would have to be drunk by other people before it the wine goes off, so I think I'd appreate the flowers more. I do think a dozen roses are an incredably strange thing for the recruitment agency to give you, a bottle of wine or something like a small hamper of food would seem a lot more approate.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

The agency rang me a few days afterwards. They really did mean to send me flowers. When I queried it, they said "just something we are trying".

[michaelchance.livejournal.com]

Ok then. Who are you working for now anyway?

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Datamail in Petone