This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

How to Choose Flowers for Your Valentine

Giving flowers Feb. 14? With value in mind, we sniff out which last the longest, and get to the heart of the best way to keep them in bloom.

A Valentine’s bouquet of fresh flowers is typically so beautiful you wish they’d last forever. Obviously, cut flowers do have an expiration date, but by choosing specific varieties and performing various maintenance procedures, your bouquets can be your “best buds” for a good while.

Carnations, alstroemeria and roses top the list of longest-lasting cut flowers, said Jocie Rogers, corporate floral coordinator for

“Carnations can last up to 15 days in a vase,” explained Rogers. “They come in an array of colors; white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, striped and so on.”  They also are two sizes: standard and miniature.

Find out what's happening in Dearbornwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Consumers should look for carnations that are in tight bud form,” Rogers said. Alstroemeria, a delicate-looking flower, “can live up to 14 days in a vase of water and comes in a wide range of colors, plus they all have a striping effect that can be either very subtle or very distinct depending on the color.” Rogers said to look for blooms that are semi-closed and have crisp, fresh, green leaves.

As for roses–one of the most romantic of flower–expect them to last from seven to 10 days.

Find out what's happening in Dearbornwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The rose is a traditional symbol of love and is most popular at Valentine’s Day,” said Rogers, who added that rose enthusiasts should look for blooms that have not opened fully and lush green leaves. (Fun fact: An estimated 196 million roses were produced for Valentine's Day in 2011)

And while you can order ahead, co-owners, brothers Mark and Kevin Scicluna, say that plenty of shops have flowers available on Feb. 14. That's when 90 percent of the love-struck purchases take place, according to the Sciclunas.

"People normally do not want their flowers on the 13th or the 15th," Mark Scicluna said. "They want them on the 14th, so we have to be geared up and ready to go."

Tips for Care and Choice

From Carolyn Hefner, an event planner and owner of in Birmingham:  “If arrangements have already been given a boost by the florist with their mix of preservatives, then change the water daily.”

From Jocie Rogers of English Gardens: “Keep flowers away from extreme heat or cold.”

From Bill Hamilton, an event planner and owner of Bill Hamilton Designs of Royal Oak: “I’ve heard of adding to the water everything from a dime to Sprite to a little bleach to the powder that comes with the flowers. The basic reason for putting anything in the water is to keep bacteria from building up in the container."

From Abbas Bazzi of in Dearborn: "(We use) imported paper from overseas. The bouquet is wrapped in special paper, much like a Miss America bouquet.”

Where to Buy Them

Watch a video on K&M Flowers . Or, if you're still hunting for that perfect bouquet, check out these shops in Dearborn:

  • , 22731 Michigan Ave.
  • 6914 Schaefer
  • , 1832 Grindley Park
  • , 6452 Greenfield
  • , 6400 Schaefer
  • , 24641 Ford Road
  • , 22199 Michigan Ave
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?