Getting brownie points on Mother’s Day

Getting brownie points on Mother’s Day: Top tips to help guys buy flowers for Mum (or the mother of your kids)

With Mother’s Day looming, florists are gearing up for another big one. But for the men in the family, buying flowers for Mum, or the mother of your kids, is not always the simplest exercise, and it doesn’t always produce the best results.

So here are 10 top tips to earn some brownie points and to make visiting the florist a more pleasant and productive experience, both for the giver and the receiver of the flowers this year.

Mother’s Day in New Zealand is equal in size to Valentine’s Day when it comes to the volume of flowers purchased, says NZ Flower Growers Association spokesperson, David Blewden.

“Nearly 1,000,000 stems are sold which is good for florists, but a large percentage of them are imported flowers, which is not so good for Kiwi growers.

“However, whereas Valentine’s Day is about roses, Mother’s Day is much more diverse in terms of the type of flowers that are bought.”

Blewden says the poor weather in the South Island has affected the supply of flowers this year.

“Canterbury produces about 25 percent of all flowers grown in New Zealand and they’ve had it pretty tough down there, so supply will be down.”

He said this may affect prices and availability, so buyers are urged to get in early.

Top buying tips for guys
1. Order early to ensure you get the flowers you want. The rush is on and leaving it till the last moment (as men tend to do) may mean you miss out. Brownie points score: Zero!

2. Take a quick look around the house – what colours does she prefer in the décor? What colours does she wear most often? A bit of homework will pay dividends when it comes to matching her flowers to her favourite colour(s).

3. When buying her flowers, check that they are Kiwi-grown and not imported. The Kiwi varieties last much longer – as will her smile. And you earn brownie points. And don’t forget good supermarkets also stock flowers.

4. Roses are the obvious choice (even guys know about roses), but make sure you choose some longer lasting flowers to go in the bouquet (like lilies, gerberas, iris, stocks, lisianthus and chrysanthemums) and some foliage. Your bouquet will last longer which will keep her smiling for longer.

5. If you’re having the flowers delivered (negative brownie points) make sure you know when she’ll be home to receive them. Having flowers left on the doorstep doesn’t really say “I love you!”

6. The best time to have flowers delivered is in the morning. The flowers are fresher and they’ll brighten her whole day.

7. Make sure your flowers come with a food sachet. You’re not the only one who gets hungry and well-nourished flowers last longer, making her happier. It’s all about her!

8. Re-cut the stems if the flowers have been out of water for any length of time. A dry patch forms at the end of the stem as water travel up the stem. This dry patch creates an air-lock that prevents any further water from being taken up by the flower when it is placed back into water. So re-cut the stem and remove the dry section. See, the things you guys learn!

9. As all guys know, size does count and this applies to the size of flower bouquets, too. Bigger is definitely better!

10. Always be good to your Mum!

Ends

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