The Naked Flowers

There is just something special about being given a bunch of flowers, regardless of whether they come from a supermarket, florist, or somebody’s garden.

(Even better if they are delivered to you at work, to make everybody else jealous!)

The husbear sent me a gorgeous bouquet of 21 long stemmed red roses for my 21st birthday (we’d only been dating a few weeks at that stage). I’m sure I blushed til I was the same colour as the flowers. I was so pleased and proud!

Mind you, I’ve never really understood the point of long stemmed roses. It’s really hard to find a vase that suits, so I usually end up trimming the stems quite short. Sacrilege! (Also, that makes it sound like I receive flowers all the time when it’s maybe once or twice a year if I’m lucky.)

As it happens, Miss 24 gave me a lovely bunch of flowers for my birthday earlier this month.

But as I started to remove the wrapping to place them in a vase, the husbear stopped me.

“I know you always take the paper off,” he said. “But I think they look more special if you leave the wrapping on!”

Amazing how we are still learning things about each other even after 30 years of marriage! (Does that mean he’s been offended every time he’s given me flowers, and I’ve stripped them naked?!)

So I left them in their wrapping for a day or two, until I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Personally, I think that once your flowers are in a vase, it looks too cluttered if they are still trussed up in the paper, cellophane and ribbons they came in. Even if you fold the wrapping back, the flowers – which should be the star attraction! – are partially hidden.

Part of the joy of receiving flowers is the pleasure I take in removing the wrapping, trimming the stems, and arranging the flowers to suit the container or vase I’ve chosen.

It reminded me of the great fruit and vegetable debate. Yep, we’re not afraid to tackle the tough issues in this household!

What do you think – do you prefer your bouquets dressed, or naked?!