Don?t give dead flowers!

[zach]

Cut flowers are beautiful but most are treated with pesticides and flown thousands of miles — using loads of precious fossil fuels.* Unfortunately cut flowers die in just a few days.* Consider buying potted indoor plants that, hopefully, will live happy, long lives.

[littlegreenmonster]

Or how about giving a vegetable or fruit basket instead, all seasonal and local stuff of course. New mums definetely appreciate them.

[gerrr]

The potted indoor plants are easy to take care and you have many varieties to choose for a perfect fit in your house. Potted indoor plants will be a better solution instead of buying flowers that die in days.

[edenvegan]

I used to get those little potted roses from people. I tried to keep those plants alive, but they always died.

[knightofalbion]

Hello Zach. As a committed 'green' I can certainly understand where you're coming from.
But as an incurable romantic!, the thought of not giving flowers is something I couldn't miss out on...To give someone flowers as a gift of love, for an anniversary, as a 'thank you', to cheer them up when they're down etc. and to see that happy smile light up their face is for me one of the joys of life!
I come from England and , for example, the vast majority of carnations on sale in florists/supermarkets here come from Colombia, and the vast majority of roses on sale here come from Ethiopia. If every first world country stopped buying cut flowers, then the flower industries in such countries - major employers - would collapse. The workers would lose their jobs and very likely end up desitute and maybe homeless as well.
Plus, even allowing for air freight, flowers(and vegetables) grown in tropical countries i.e. grown outdoors - more often than not are less energy-intensive than flowers (and vegetables) grown under glass in first world countries. [This is certainly the case in Europe with out of season produce.]
It's a tricky issue. I can see both sides. But I believe it serves the greater good to support our brothers and sisters in the Third World.

[Earthhugger]

I can understnad what you mean in the post about giving flowers. I Usually cut my own flowers that I grow in my yard. It is very rewarding to know you grew something and also get to enjoy it infoors. I have even cute them and put them in vases for family and friends.

I really like the idea about giving a fresh veg. basket.. I will haev to do that one as well. I think giving a gift basket with fresh veggies and flowers that you grow your self would be a great idea and I think most people would enjoy it.

Earthhugger

[liz@greenbenefits]

i've found that a lot of farmers markets sell locally grown and organic flowers that you can give to your sweet heart and although they will die, they are at least eco-friendly!

[Earthhugger]

Originally Posted by liz@greenbenefits

i've found that a lot of farmers markets sell locally grown and organic flowers that you can give to your sweet heart and although they will die, they are at least eco-friendly!

That is so true. We visit several different local markets each month and most of most of them so have locally grown organic flowers. One that we visit also has has a small local artisan area where you can pick up all sorts of interesting hand crafted items.

[zach]

I should clarify that I'm not against giving cut flowers if they are grown locally without pesticides. We have a local nonprofit farm nearby and we joined their CSA program. Along with summer shares of veggies and fruits we can go pick organically grown flowers at anytime and you just pick what you need so there's nothing wasted.