That's a hard thing to admit as a florist, but admitting your problem is the first step to recovery, right?
And I AM in recovery. For years- rather decades, roses were simply a stock item. A flower to send on Valentines, anniversaries or other special occasions. Red, yellow, pink and white for weddings. Pretty pedestrian and ordinary; the scent of old roses in the garden was all but gone and often the blooms didn't open. "Bullets" we called them. The thorns were an added exclamation, making a run-of-the-mill flower also a pain- literally.
My rehabilitation began upon my returning to the floral industry. It began with my first trip to the wholesaler when I noticed bundles wrapped in corrugated cardboard. Odd. When I looked inside, I was amazed at the color, the fragrance and the fact that these roses were OPENING! Joy! I made note of the name Rosaprima. I immediately began ordering from this particular grower when I could- on occasion they are unavailable due to their sustainable growing practices. I am now, dare I say it, in LOVE with roses. Rosaprima roses, that is.
Grown in the Andes Mountains, these roses are unique. Most varieties have large blooms, due to the amount of petals- twice your average rose. Their colors are amazing, but the real attraction is their longevity. Opening slowly and fully, these roses last for more than a week. I have been known to keep some in my cooler for 3 weeks for weddings for that full open look.
So, a rose is not always a rose...sometimes they are VERY special.
