Men love flowers! A survey conducted by the Society of American Florists showed that over 60% of men surveyed would like to receive flowers on Valentine's Day.

Men love to get flowers for the same reason they send them - to be recognized. Everyone likes to feel special. A good indicator of when it might be appropriate to send flowers would be to consider his favorite occasions for sending them. Does he send flowers for birthdays, or perhaps as a thank you? Don't forget that no reason is often the best reason! Just as women love receiving flowers for no reason at all, a surprise floral gift will surely catch his attention too.

The Best Designs and Colors for Men

Men are stimulated by color and are visually oriented. Research shows that men prefer vivid colors such as yellow, orange and red. Flower arrangements that are contemporary, linear styles or natural styles are best. Other favorites might include green or flowering plants. Tell your florist that you want flowers for a man and ask for specific suggestions. If your recipient has a hobby, perhaps you could highlight that. For example, if he is a golfer, tuck in a box of golf balls. If he is into cars, add an auto magazine or two. Your florist can offer creative suggestions for flowers that are sure to please.

Hibberd remarked that the petunia's (Petunia phoenecia) usefulness rested first on its beauty, and next on the ease with which it could be adapted to different decorative effects within the garden.

The best way to grow petunias was to sow the seed thinly in a well made border about mid-April. As soon as the seedlings had three or four leaves, they could be thinned, and those taken out replanted elsewhere. When in flower the best should be marked and, if the gardener wished to perpetuate them, cuttings could be taken about August, five or six together in five inch pots in sandy loam, then placed in a greenhouse or frame for the winter.

The gardener could also purchase plants of the best varieties, and save seeds from those.

The petunia is a 'very nearly hardy' plant, needed good air and a light, rich sandy soil. The Victorian gardener would also stake the plants as they became 'leggy'.

If kept under glass during summer the petunia invariably became infested with green-fly, the only Victorian remedy being to fumigate with tobacco smoke (do not do this yourself).

While the blue flax has provided fibre for fabrics since ancient Egyptian times, the crimson flax was a regular flower in the Victorian flower garden. Hibberd called it one of the most splendid hardy annuals known, capable of becoming a perennial under suitable management.

Gardeners first had to ensure a suitable supplier of seed (crimson flax seed often being corrupted with 'worthless' seed). The seeds needed a fertile sandy loam, and could be sown in pans, or trays, from March. Once they were large enough to handle they could be planted out six inches apart. The crimson flax needed plenty of air and light in a sunny open position, and should be kept moist while still young. Seeds could also be sown direct from April onwards.

Popular among amateur gardeners, seed packs of coreopsis 'was sure to be included in his first purchase of garden seeds, along with the Virginia stock, ten-week stock, sweetpea and mignonette' - all seeds which could be scattered directly where they were to grow, and be assured of actually growing.

Short of digging them up every two or three days to see how they were going, coreopsis could be guaranteed to endure almost all kinds of mistreatment.

The name comes from the Latin koris, or bug, or possibly korus, helmet.

Coreopsis were also known as Calliopsis, or 'beautiful flower' or 'lovely eye'.