Roses

Common Names: tea rose, sweetheart rose, spray

Roses are an ancient symbol of love and beauty. According to Greek legend, Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, named what the gods considered the most beautiful flower after her son, Eros, the God of Love. Throughout history, the rose has continued to symbolize various exalted aspects including love, desire, honor, courage, and reverence. It is no coincidence that roses are still the number one favorite flower bouquet for expressing the sentiments "I Love You," "Thank You," "Be Strong," or "Congratulations!"

There are a tremendous variety of both cultivated and wild roses. The three main categories of the rosa genus include flowering shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants. There are about a hundred species of wild roses, mostly from the temperate northern hemisphere. Cultivated roses, which are also indigenous to North America as well as other locales, include up to 120 varieties ranging in size of blossom, color, scent, length of stem, size of thorns or spines, and number of blossoms per stem. If you've visited a botanical gardens, you have no doubt seen yards and yards of different colors, shapes, and species of roses. The various colors of rose blossoms have long been associated with different symbolic meanings. Here is a chart of rose colors and their possible meanings.

• Red = Love, Respect, Courage
• Yellow = Joy, Freedom, Friendship
• Pink/Peach = Gratitude, Admiration, Sympathy
• White = Reverence, Secrecy, Innocence
• Coral/Orange = Fascination, Enthusiasm, Desire
• Lavender = Enchantment
• Red & White = Unity
• Red, Pink, & White = Trinity

Beyond their extraordinary blossoms, roses also provide other useful products for personal care. The fruits of some species, especially Rosa canina (the dog rose), are called rose hips and are an excellent source of Vitamin C. Rose hips can also be used to make a medicinal and tasty herbal tea. Rose water is a liquid containing oil distilled from roses, used in perfumes, beauty products, and as a flavoring. Rose water can be found in products as diverse as lotion, incense, and ice cream.

NUMBER OF ROSES

• 1 rose = Love at first sight
• 2 roses = Mutual Feelings
• 3 roses = I love you!
• 7 roses = I'm infatuated with You!!!
• 9 roses = Together as long as we live!!!
• 10 roses = You're Perfect!!!
• 11 roses = You're my treasured one!!!
• 12 roses = Be my Steady!!!
• 13 roses = Forever Friends!!!
• 15 roses = I'm really sorry....!!!
• 20 roses = I'm sincere towards You!!
• 21 roses = I'm committed to You!!
• 36 roses = I'll remember our romantic moments
• 40 roses = My love is genuine!!!
• 99 roses = I'll love You till the day I die...
• 100 roses = I'm totally devoted to You
• 101 roses = You're my one and only
• 108 roses = Will you marry me???
• 999 roses = My love will last till the end of time...