No all street corner stands are lame. There's one on the corner of Bleeker and Christopher that I've been using for 10 years

Have to admit, weakness for the classics. Dozen reds every year for my wife. I know it seems played, but jewelry usually accompanies.

I wish I had someone to give flowers to. Bwah!

Great suggestions from everyone. As for making flowers so expensive on the big flower holidays of the year, it's more fodder for me to start my own calendar of holidays.

I bought cheap roses last year that were beautiful. But they never bloomed fully before they died. In fact, they didnt even come close. I'm not sure if that was because of the price or being out of season.

Is it possible to grow roses in greenhouses?

I knew that in Feb. flower prices spiked because of V-day, but didn't spell that out- I live above a florist's office and talk to them all of the time. They said that V-day does cause prices to go up, but it doesn't help that NO flowers are in season in Feb.

The florist that has their office below me and their store front on the first floor and a couple doors over do a lot of weddings and told me the most expensive month for flowers is February, and the runner-up for expensive flower-cost-weddings is the weekend of Mother's day, because everyone is buying mom flowers.

I actually found out once (a little by accident) that flowers are so expensive for Valentine's Day because of the time of year - exactly as Carolyn suggests. However, it's not because it's winter, it's soley because it's Valentine's Day. I was in a florist in NH about three weeks before VD a couple of years ago picking up some roses and the woman behind the counter told me I was just in time because the very next day they were jacking the prices by 40% (!) soley for the Valentine's rush. What a scam.

On the West Side, Gotham Gardens is great, but so is Rooster Flowers for a smaller and more casual vibe (but still high quality flowers/plants). It's on the West side of Amsterdam Ave., 77th-78th.

Last year I got red roses day before V-day and many of them were dead, heads hanging the very next day- less than 24 hours... I felt bad because I knew that could not have been cheap- florist delivery etc. I call the florist and they sent new ones over... I didn't want my boyfriend to come over and see the flowers he had had sent to me a day early as a surprise looking so bad.

That being said, Feb. is the worst month for flowers, they are super expensive because they are out of season... I would rather have flowers that are nicer and last longer some other time of year.

Wow thanks missginsu -- that was very helpful. A florist once told me that if flowers start to wilt too quickly a full bath -- the whole flower in water -- will slow it down.

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden has a fantastic cut-flower care guide including a homemade preservative recipe here.

considering most roses are picked by workers making about 10 cents a day, no matter what you are paying for the flowers it's too much.

I saw the opportunity for a plug and I couldn't resist. I started using ZeZe Flowers (Don't worry. This isn't linkola) on the East Side and have gotten nothing but the most insanely good reviews from the recipients. You gotta love a florist that makes you look that good.

Roses, i like pink or coral. Not really feelin' the red.

Ditto on the Peonies. Soft pinks.

Also: Gardenia, Tulips (baby pink again... anyone sense a pattern here?), and calla lilies (only if i have a striking place to put them otherwise they're just in the way. white, red or.... pink.)

To avoid "manky" water you can put a tbs of bleach or peroxide in the h2o. I also put a tsp or 2 of sugar -- seems to keep the foliage greener.

The main difference b/t minimart flowers & florists is the degree of freshness. The minimarts will wilt in a few days; florists last much longer. Probably the standard of care combined with a better wholesaler.

It's easy to do your own arranging, particularly if you stick to one color -- I like all white.

Flowers of any kind are lovely, but Irises are my favorite.

I like tulips a lot. My favorite flower is the peony, but their in-season period is woefully short, so I'm happy with anything. Even a plant would be good, even though I'd probably kill it. I could probably work with moss. Maybe.

i'm big on tulips. they seem so much simpler, so warm.

I prefer wildflowers, they are much prettier, last longer and a bit more unique than roses which die so quickly.