VALENTINE’S BLOOMS LAST THREE YEARS
1. Robert Burns 2. William Wordsworth
3. Emily Dickinson Email your answer with “roses competition” in the subject line to competitions@media scotland.co.uk by 9am on February 12, 2018. Include your name, address and telephone number.
The roses are treated with special oils which preserve the petals – and require no maintenance or water.
So they look like they have just been picked long after regular blooms would have been thrown in the bin.
Florist Micheal KivlinWilliams says the preserved buds are a big hit because they are so versatile.
And he’s inundated with orders at his Edinburgh shop Charmed Floristree.
Mi c he a l , 3 4 , s a id : “Or ig inal ly, preser ved roses were only used by the big designers and perfume houses in London for displays.
“But now they are available in Scotland and the price to the consumer has come down as a result. Who wouldn’t want to say ‘I love you’ with blooms that will last and last?”
The buds, which cost from £7.50 a stem, start life as regular roses from Ecuador. Their
natural sap is replaced by a liquid mixture of glycerine, water and dyes so they retain their original state. They are available in a range of colours including bright blue, gold and black, as well as more traditional shades.
Micheal added: “The f lowers look and feel fresh, not dried.
“They maintain their texture and flexibility for up to three years as long as they are not exposed to bright sunlight.
“They look lovely in bouquet form but also in hat boxes and mirrored containers. And they’re a great investment in your loved one.”
But Steve France, of the British Florist Association, says the demand for long-lasting roses will fade due to their lack of scent.
He said: “For most, the joy of receiving a bouquet of fresh flowers lies very much in the lingering scent of a bouquet, so we don’t see people giving this up any time soon.”