Plants and petals

Flowers have perplexed me for a long time.

Not the actual plants and petals of them, but the tendency to give them as gifts for a certain holiday or other occasion.

For most of my life, I wondered why men rushed to the florist to buy a bouquet.

It didn’t seem quite right to profess undying love with flowers which would, in fact, die.

It turned out I was, in fact, dumb.

Today, I thought I’d try to find out just why flowers appeal to women so much.

I asked two women if they’d answer the question, and I took mental notes.

I didn’t intend to quote my friends, but I realized I have to quote one because her answer was so concise.

“They bring joy.”

It’s a matter-of-fact answer, but it makes plenty of sense.

Gifts are intended to bring joy.

If flowers give a woman joy, give her flowers.

I received another explanation from another friend, whom I’ll paraphrase with the fact flowers are a simple way to show a woman she’s on your mind.

I wondered for years if the point of floral flattery was to keep up with the Jones’ on social media.

The cynic in me still wonders, but the romantic side has started to believe the truth is as simple as joy and mindfulness.

I think women deserve both.

If those gifts can be given in a bouquet with a three-day lifespan on the kitchen counter, bring on the plants and petals.

This post is a response to Sue’s prompt, which is “flowers.”