Are you a man who believes flowers should only be sent on special occasions and only to a woman you are madly in love with? Think again! Flowers are an appropriate gift for any woman in your life - mom, sister, friend, coworker, or any other woman you feel warmly toward. And, women love to be surprised, so send flowers any time of the year and for no reason at all. Best of all, you don't have to spring for the really expensive flowers, because women love to get mixed flowers just as much as they love roses. Don't believe me? Take a look at the results of a survey conducted by Bruskin/Golding Research for the Society of American Florists (SAF):

* 94% of women say flowers given as a surprise mean the most.

* While 83% of women responded that they would most like to receive flowers from a significant other, 34% would also like flowers from their sons, 25% from a male friend, 23% from their father, and 23% from a brother.

* 62% of women stated they'd like to receive mixed flowers as a surprise. Only 28% responded they'd rather have roses.

While that may clear up when and for whom you should send flowers, it probably doesn't answer many of the other questions you may have, like:

* What do I order?
* How do I order?
* Will my girlfriend get the wrong idea?
* Can I send flowers too often?

First of all, relax. Flowers are probably the easiest gift you could ever buy. That's because you always have an expert to turn to for advice-your florist! Even if you have absolutely no idea what to get, a florist can help you choose the perfect arrangement. All you'll need to do is tell them who they're for, what occasion (if any), and a little about the personality of the recipient. Your florist can walk you through the rest of the decision making process, or you can simply leave the details up to them.

When you call your florist, stop in to the shop, or order online, be sure to have key information on hand, including recipient's name, delivery address, telephone number, and method of payment.

If you're worried that sending flowers to a woman you've just begun dating will give her the wrong idea, don't worry! Tell your florist that the arrangement is for a new girlfriend and they can help you pick the perfect arrangement to say "You're special" but not "I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you!" Women know when a gift of flowers just means that you care.

Flowers are the gift that can be given for any occasion and they never go out of style. I've been in the flower industry for many years, and I've never heard anyone say, "I'm sick of getting flowers!" So, send some flowers to your wife or girlfriend today. But, don't forget your mom, sister, or female friend!

This article was posted on February 15, 2006