Floral Infatuation

Everyone has dreaded February 14 at some point in their lives.\nIn elementary school, wondering which boy or girl would give you the "I love you" instead of "I like you" valentine created butterflies in the stomach for days. \nIn high school, not receiving a carnation -- even from your best friend -- meant your entire day was downhill from homeroom period.\nBut in college, the ones who have the most anxiety about Valentine's Day probably have a significant other because it can be expensive -- very expensive. And quite often the priciest part of the red holiday will just die in a few days: the roses.\nSo why do we give each other flowers on Valentine's Day? Most people who do it don't even know why. Sophomore Louis Polychronos bought roses for his now ex-girlfriend on Valentine's Day each year. \n"I don't understand why I get girls flowers, they're just going to wilt up and die," he said. "But I know they like them, so I do it anyway."\nGiving flowers to a sweetheart on Valentine's Day originated in the 1600s. Roses became particularly popular because it was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, according to www.findflowers.co.uk. \nEllis Floral, which has been in Bloomington since 1919, sold about 160 dozen roses during last year's holiday. Ellis employee Amanda Schaffer said they will only receive about 90 dozen roses for this year's Valentine's Day and doesn't know what kind of business to expect since the store moved in June. \nMatt Ellis said the red rose has been the No. 1 selling flower during his 30 years at the floral shop. During the holiday, the price of a dozen roses can reach $90. Schaffer said students make up a large part of Ellis' business, and they're easy customers because they're not picky. Perhaps this is why many guys say they're afraid to buy something other than roses.\n"I guess I would consider something other than roses, but I wouldn't know what to get," Polychronos said. "A dozen roses are easy and just about every girl likes them."\nSenior Steve Arvidson and junior Joe Reitan said they would only consider buying a different flower if the girl has expressed an interest in something particular.\nBut there are other flowers that can say "I love you" -- or even have a better meaning for your intentions. Like red roses, red tulips, asters and orchids are declarations of love.\nFor long-distance relationships, striped carnations and pink camellias say, "Sorry I can't be with you." Some flowers have very specific meanings, like the spider flower that says, "Elope with me." \nSending anonymous flowers is an option for singles that are in love from a distance. Gardenias are known as the "secret love" flowers, but Schaffer said Ellis doesn't often see orders from secret admirers, and sometimes they're required by law to reveal the sender's identity if the receiver asks.\nEven the color and arrangement of roses have different meanings. Giving a girl red and white roses resembles unity, a single red rose means, "I simply love you," long-stemmed roses say, "I will remember you always," and roses of assorted colors mean, "You're everything to me."\nWhatever their meaning, giving any flower is one of the most popular ways to say you care.