Never underestimate the power of flowers on Valentine’s Day. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Some content from this article was originally posted by Jana Petersen in February 2012.
One thing is for sure: never underestimate the power of flowers on Valentine’s Day.
Sure, there are chocolates and jewelry and stuffed animals galore, but fresh flowers make the heart grow fonder.
There are plenty of shops in the neighborhood to pick-up flowers for your Valentine. Here are just some of the options:
- Flowers on 14th, 1712 14th Street NW
- Lee’s Flower and Card Shop, 1026 U Street NW
- Palace Florists, 1305 19th Street NW
- Caruso’s, 1717 M Street NW
- Whole Foods Market, 1440 P Street NW
And if you need to pick-up a little gift to go with those flowers, consider visiting some of the neighborhood’s local gift shops, such as:
- Miss Pixie’s, 1626 14th Street NW
- PULP, 1803 14th Street NW
- Home Rule, 1807 14th Street NW
And a homemade valentine from Brand Dave is always a good choice.
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Valentine’s Day again? (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at [email protected].
I remember the anxiety, the nerves, and the possibility she wasn’t going to like the gift I bought her. I was a very awkward middle school student who was basing his knowledge on late night Nickelodeon shows and assumed he had played this Valentine’s well. I bought my first girlfriend some cuddly doll; who wouldn’t want that? Then about three weeks later I was dumped quite unceremoniously on my birthday (She claims she didn’t know). The events are connected (probably). Since then I have looked at V-Day with cautious eyes.
So I admit to not knowing much to anything about the origins of Valentine’s Day, but boy, I wish I did so I could go back in time and stop it from becoming this important. I have always filed it under “Hallmark Holidays” in the sense that there is such a bombardment of commercialism associated with it that to ignore it would bring dire consequences. If you really love the people around you, hopefully you say and show it often and you don’t need the help of a crappy $2 card with Snoopy to show it (also, chocolate should be eaten year round).
But sadly I live here, too, and have gone through the motions over the years. Now I can only speak to my experience as a guy but I think my advice is practical for all. So as you prepare for Valentine’s Day have these thoughts in mind.
Do Your Homework. I am convinced there are two types of girls when it comes to this rosy day. You either love the majesty of it all or you find it as forced as I do. Do NOT assume which type your significant other is.
This reconnaissance work should be done in January, far from the actual day so it doesn’t look like you’re sloppy and forgot. Maybe there was a past traumatic experience or an ex who rolled out the red carpet (screw you dude who raised her expectations). The only way to plan properly is to know this and only then will you actually give her what she wants; the whole show or some extra affection on a Tuesday.
Roses Are For Idiots. They are overused, trite, and lame. Your significant probably thinks so too. Shoot I would even go as far to say that they actually have a specific flower they like. If you were a good companion, you would already know this and purchase accordingly. Nothing says, “I half-assed buying you something” like roses does.
Out vs. In. If you go out, it’s you and every other couple out there making the best of a Tuesday night. If you stay in and cook some dinner it’s considered making the memory and will be remembered longer than some fancy cocktail at a trendy Dupont restaurant. That said, I won’t be taking my own advice and going out, but it’s a great night to use a gift certificate for somewhere nice (thanks, Matt).
I will say it again. Valentine’s Day is all about knowing what works and not letting the hype get out of hand. And for the single people out there, don’t let Hallmark depress you with their huge display in CVS. St Patrick’s day is right around the corner and you can be sad that you aren’t Irish to celebrate that. This is a great time to eat lots of chocolate though…
Enjoy your Vday, Borderstanis.
What Grinds My Gears
- No matter how bad the Metro gets, there is no one held accountable or improvements? What gives?
Links! Links! Ice Cold Links!
- DC taxis are about to get worse.
- Forget Tebowing. Try Bradying.
- Unsure how to feel about new Spider-Man movie. Thoughts anyone?
Flowers are always a good choice for Valentine’s Day. (Luis Gomez Photos)
By Jana Petersen. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @jana_petersen.
Ladies (and gents) — it’s here again. Valentine’s Day. Red hearts, candy hearts, ‘I love you’ cards, and fuzzy white bears line CVS and Rite Aid walls and shelves all over the District.
Every year, as I anticipate the plans and questions and material items (What to do? Whom with? What to get and where?), I’m flooded by fond memories of years past: You know, the days when the big questions were “Which cartoon card should I tell my mom to mass order for my classmates? What color should my Valentine’s Day mailbox be?”
All of that said, just because mailboxes and candy hearts don’t necessarily characterize my days leading up to the holiday and the holiday itself, that doesn’t mean Valentine’s Day – as a twenty-something year-old — can’t be equally as lovely.
While Valentine’s Day activities may vary — Bachelor marathon turned champagne drinking game, anyone? (yes, I have friends doing this), or a night out with a significant other — there’s one thing I believe friends, lovers and acquaintances (okay, maybe not acquaintances — that could be creepy) overlook:
The power of flowers.
I can’t speak for every person out there. But, I will say nothing makes me feel happier or more fulfilled than a few flowers in my apartment, or some on my desk at work. Some may argue “Why flowers? They die, and aren’t edible!” Well, for one – I don’t risk eating all of them (or any) in one fell swoop (or at all). Two, they’re pretty for the time they’re alive. And finally, when they do die, dried flowers make AWESOME wall-hangings.
All of this to say, friends and lovers, get out there and buy some flowers. Give some flowers. Or one flower (but not from a neighbor’s garden).
Where to Buy Flowers in the Neighborhood
- Flowers on 14th, 1712 14th Street NW
- Lee’s Flower and Card Shop, 1026 U Street NW
- Palace Florists, 1305 19th Street NW
- Caruso’s, 1717 M Street NW
- Whole Foods Market, 1440 P Street NW
A purplish-blue clematis on the 1400-block of T Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)
This beautiful clematis grows on the 1400-block of T Street NW in Borderstan
A giant dahlia in a Corcoran Street NW treebox in Borderstan. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)
Yes, I grew this myself. It’s some type of giant dahlia. When I planted the bulbs this spring I thought I was planting the smaller, regular-sized ones. These have grown around 3-feet tall and I have to use stakes to keep them from tipping over. Check them out on the north side of the 1500-block of Corcoran NW.
Lillies in bloom in one of Borderstan’s lush gardens. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)
Happy Tuesday, Borderstanians! Some lillies in the front garden for you to enjoy.
Flowers in my garden. (Photo: Luis Gomez, One Photograph A Day.)
Yep, they’re all mine… and my partner photographed them. And the bromeliads in the top row? They’re in pots and must come inside this winter. I fell in love with bromeliads when I visited Venezuela in July 2007 with Luis. While the orchid is the country’s national flower, the bromeliad is a close second. You see them everywhere.
“Spring Amaryllis.” (Photo: Luis Gomez, One Photograph A Day.)
I love amaryllis flowers… one of my favorites. This one bloomed very very late and was a second stalk on a bulb; the first stalk bloomed in early February. I got a deal on these… it was a large box-pot with three bulbs that I purchased at an After-Christmas sale at Garden District.
