Potted flowers range from little offerings in the supermarket, to sophisticated combination plantings offered at garden centers, florists or other high-end retailers.
Those little potted flowers can answer for a surprisingly diverse set of situations. They don’t pollute, they’re non-fattening, they carry no religious or political baggage and there’s no need for a vase.
Choose the flower, or flower combination, that suits the occasion. If you have to make a tough choice, err on the side of simplicity. A simple but tasteful offering is nearly always well received.
Never buy anything large enough to make you sweat carrying it in from the car. No one likes a sweaty guest. Okay, that’s too severe and does not account for life’s diversity. Let’s say that few people like a sweaty guest.
If the occasion is special enough, take it upon yourself to slip the plant’s plastic nursery pot into a special pottery container or basket. Even potted bulbs don’t last forever. The container that encloses the floral gift becomes a keepsake remembrance of the occasion. She’ll find a use for it, and you might too. Hey, it’s an excuse to show up with another plant!
Yep. It’s the gift that keeps you giving. Next time you show up, you can bring a new plant for the container.
If the home slated to receive your gift of flowers is an established one, with mature occupants, rest easy. At a certain point in their lives, everyone has acquired something that can be readied to host an extemporaneous gift of cut flowers. If it is a married couple, don’t even think about it. Every married couple gets at least one vase as a gift, plus several things that could easily be a vase if you so choose.