you don't bring me flowers anymore

In 1978, Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand recorded a duet titled, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”. Both artists had previously recorded solo versions of the song, but recording studios brought them together for the duet, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

It’s a nice song. Have a listen:

Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand - You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore - YouTube

Have you ever wondered when the custom of giving flowers started?

I had no idea, so I looked it up, and discovered that it’s a practice that has been going on for a LONG time.

Evidence of floral gifts dates back to prehistoric times. Flowers were known to hold great significance to ancient civilizations from Greece to China. Flowers were common in storytelling and mythology. Soon after this emergence, these floral gifts were used to convey messages. During the Middle Ages, Turkey created a system that assigned specific meanings to each type of flower. This quickly gained traction in Western Europe. By the Victorian era, people were using bouquets to express their feelings in a time where showing emotion was considered gauche. Giving flowers became such a complex and meaningful gesture that even the way you presented your arrangement had a purpose.

 Giving flowers that hold meaning is still a common practice. The message behind each flower has evolved over time, with many different cultures developing their own floral languages. White flowers in Chinese culture typically symbolize death, while Western cultures associate them with purity and innocence. It is also popularly understood that red roses bear a romantic message. That’s why it is essential to look into the various meanings behind flowers before you give them. It is much easier to send flowers today, as online shopping makes it possible to add a beautiful bouquet to your cart and have it delivered right to the recipient’s door.

 https://connect2local.com/l/274688/c/698686/the-fascinating-history-of-giving-flowers-as-gifts#:~:text=Evidence%20of%20floral%20gifts%20dates%20back%20to%20prehistoric,these%20floral%20gifts%20were%20used%20to%20convey%20messages.

 In Russia, the Ukraine and former members of the Soviet Union, if you plan to give a woman flowers for a joyful occasion, make sure you give her an odd number of flowers (unlike the even dozen typically given in North America). Even numbers of flowers are reserved for grieving and funerals. This tradition also holds true with some Europeans, but also steer clear of the number 13, as it's considered an unlucky number. Also, avoid giving a woman yellow flowers. Yellow is said to signify the end of a relationship. Unless that's your intent, of course!

https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-is-it-bad-luck-to-give-woman-even-number-flowers.htm#:~:text=Even%20numbers%20of%20flowers%20are%20reserved%20for%20grieving,number.%20Also%2C%20avoid%20giving%20a%20woman%20yellow%20flowers.

Fortunately, the significance of yellow flowers in North America is not the same as it is in Russia, and my bride has always loved them.

I’m a firm believer in the fact that you don’t need a special occasion to give flowers to your favorite female. By  all means, buy some on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and her birthday, but feel free to bring some home “just because”.

A few years ago, I ordered a bouquet of roses from flowers.com for Mother’s Day. They arrived on time, and came in a nice glass vase. All told, it cost me about $60, definitely money well spent, except for one thing.

Baby’s breath.

Baby’s breath flowers are a common addition to rose bouquets, but they are highly attractive to cats. If eaten in large quantity, though, they can be toxic.

After our cat started chewing on them, I did some research and discovered that they needed to be tossed as soon as possible. Obviously, though, we still kept the roses.

 I go to the grocery store often enough that I should quality for frequent flyer miles. On occasion, I’ll take a quick look at the flower arrangements to see if any are sale. The dozen roses shown below cost me a grand total of $7 – and worth every penny, since that ALWAYS bring a smile to my wife’s face. 

That’s not the only reason we have been married for 50 years, but is likely a contributing factor.