A Rose Is A Rose, Right? Apparently, Not.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I had intended to get my girlfriend the traditional bouquet of roses.  Standing in line at the flower shop, I was bombarded with roses in all different hues - red, white, pink, yellow, orange, blue, purple, and so many more.  The florist asked "what color roses do you want?"  I, being a guy, answered "does it matter?"  Little did I know the complexity involved in choosing which color of roses to give.  Apparently, a rose isn't just a rose.  So, I am sharing with all of you the valuable lesson I learned about the meaning of the color of roses.

1.  Red.  The red rose is traditional and sympolizes love and romance.  A red rose bud is associated with beauty and youth.  A red rose in full bloom shows full-blown desire. 

2.  Lavender.  The lavender (or purple for us less sophisticated guys) rose expresses elegance and enchantment.

3.  Pink.  The pink rose symbolizes grace, admiration, and sweetness.  Perfect for a sister, daughter, or mother.

4.  White.  The white rose symbolizes purity and peace. 

5.  Black.  The black rose symbolizes death.  I'd stay away from this one for Valentine's Day if I were you.

6.  Yellow.  The yellow rose is associated with brightness, happiness, and friendship. 

7.  Orange.  The orange rose sybolizes passion and desire.

8.  Coral.  The coral rose (don't mistake the coral rose for the orange rose -- believe me, there is a difference) is associated with a great passion for something.  Not just the passion of the orange rose, a GREAT passion.

9.  Blue.  The blue rose is associated with accomplishing the impossible and overcoming all odds.

There you have it.  Now you know everything I do about the meaning of roses.  Take my advise - keep this list with you at all times in case of emergency floral needs (forgotten birthday, anniversary, when a mere "I'm sorry" just won't do) so you can choose the perfect shade for the occasion.

As for my girlfriend, after all of this research into the meaning of roses, I'm quite tuckered out.  So, I've nixed the whole "dozen roses" idea.  Instead, I've dedicated this post to her.  Happy Valentine's Day!  What do you think, baby?