Flower Bouquets

Bouquets – A Simple Gift that Says a Thousand Words

Bouquet is a French word with no English equivalent, for an arrangement of cut flowers.

A bouquet is the most common form of gift-wrapping for a bunch of flowers. The individual flowers are separated, cut and preened of dead leaves, then arranged and tied into a wrap. The wrap is usually done with a waterproof material as the bouquets are usually kept damp, but may contain a porous block that the stems are embedded in, or a plastic bubble filled with water. Bouquet are bought from florists and some gift shops but due to their simple design and mobility, they are also sold at filling stations and local shops for people who are in a hurry. There is also a growing market for online flower sale and delivery.

Arranging the flowers in a bouquet is an internationally acknowledged art form. This is known as floristry and works flowers, grasses, and herbs into an artistically designed display. The style of the design changes from florist to florist and also between eras and nations. The florist must have a good eye for design, good knowledge of botany, and be able to discern what kind of display the customer needs. The types of flowers will need to be different depending on the occasion, also changing for different seasons such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Also cultural differences occur. A white flower in many western countries signifies purity and cleanliness, while in some Asian countries is a symbol of death. In some eastern European countries, giving a bouquet of yellow flowers to a lover means that you want to part with them.

Bouquet are usually best suited for temporary use. The flowers do not last very long and are so used as a gift to present on a date or special occasion, and also a bouquet needs to be put in a vase as it is not free standing. For a floral gift that can be used as a centrepiece a wreath or similar arrangement is used, where the flowers are attached to a backboard.