Many people find it very difficult to say those three simple words, I Love You. One of the reasons is the commitment that the word contains.

 

Another is there is more than one type of love, such as love between siblings and other family members , love between friends  and the love that lovers share.

 

To complicate matters, love is a word that is freely tossed around in phrases such as I love chocolate.

 

Fortunately we mere mortals can turn to the flowers to help us express what we are feeling. Flowers have been used for centuries as symbols for our emotions, the feelings that we may keep locked inside for whatever reason or the words that seem to fail us when most needed.

 

 

The red rose is the symbol of everlasting love and the flower of choice when that is the message you wish to give.

 

When you buy a red rose or a bouquet of red roses how much thought do you give to where the flowers were grown and how they were grown?

 

Are you aware that cutflowers are often sprayed with toxic chemicals and the workers who grow and pick them for shipping to the market are exposed to those chemicals?

 

Do you really want to show your love by giving that special somebody a rose that has been sprayed with a chemical that is harmful to the earth and the people who handle the rose?

 

Does this rose speak of love or exploitation?

 

Now you can grow your own roses or other cut flowers or buy from a local organic grower but if you live, as I do, where the growing season does not run 12 months long or anywhere near it, a grower may be difficult to find, for many months of the year.

 

There is a way to know the roses, that you are about to buy to demonstrate your love, have done no or little harm to anyone and that is to purchase roses or other flowers that have been certified by VeriFlora.

 

The VeriFlora Certified Sustainably Grown Label is your guarantee the flowers and potted plants you are about to buy have been produced in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner and that they meet the highest standards for freshness and quality.

 

The certified  rose, potted plant or other cut flower may cost more than one that is not certified but when you consider the difference in how they are grown what choice do you actually have when the message you are sending your love one is I Love You. Surely he or she iis worth it. Can you really say those three words with a gift that has done harm?