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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flowers as a gift

50 replies

Furrypineapple · 12/01/2019 18:36

Think I’m most definitely BU but can’t help it and wonder if anyone shares my feelings.

I love fresh flowers really but feel a sense of weariness come over me whenever I’m given them as a gift (not very often I should say!). I don’t mean a small petrol station bunch but a great big bouquet which would fill 2 or 3 vases. Had a big birthday recently and received two on the same weekend. Lovely lovely thought but I couldn’t help feeling very lazy about having to cut open the big bag of water (which goes everywhere), find suitable vases, trim the stems (not easy with normal scissors), add the food, worry about the lilies because of the cat and then have to look after them for the following couple of weeks.

Plus I’m not creative at all so they never look the same once they’ve been dismantled. I’m just ungrateful really aren’t I? Or are there any good tips from florists which would allow me to feel overjoyed next time?!

OP posts:
KC225 · 12/01/2019 18:43

I am not a fan of display bouquets. The expense makes me cringe. I would prefer a plant for the garden or book, something a but more long lasting.

Glitterman12 · 12/01/2019 18:43

I’m not a florist but maybe don’t diamantle them! Mix the food and more water in a jug and just pour it when needed!

Weathermonger · 12/01/2019 18:44

Truthfully although I love fresh flowers, I'd rather have a potted plant or bulbs that I can put out in the garden. They last much longer.

EdWinchester · 12/01/2019 18:45

I love getting flowers as a gift but I am so snobby about flowers (ie types and colours), no-one apart from dh and very close family dares!

Stephisaur · 12/01/2019 18:48

I bought some massive vases so that I don’t have to dismantle them :)

MollyHuaCha · 12/01/2019 18:50

I love getting flowers. If no one has given me any for a while I buy them myself. WinkThanks

Original poster
Furrypineapple · 12/01/2019 18:51

@Glitterman - how does that work? Don’t you need to unwrap, trim stems and put in new container? I often think about leaving them as they are in the bag but not sure how that would fit in a vase.

I once got an arrangement in an oasis ina basket. Nothing to do to it. Best one ever!

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 12/01/2019 18:52

I just leave them in the bag, too.

Disfordarkchocolate · 12/01/2019 18:57

My local florist told me even if they come in a bag of water you can stand up you still need to put the flowers in fresh water and a vase. I bought a big vase for the rare times I get a nice big bouquet.

AmericanEskimoDoge · 12/01/2019 18:58

Flowers are a nice gesture, but I do feel like they're a waste of money... Not something I'd want to receive often, personally, because I can't help but think of what I'd rather have had the money spent on-- but of course if they're a gift, so it wasn't my money to spend, so I try not to dwell on that but just appreciate the thoughtfulness.

(...I think I did finally get it across to DH that while I appreciate the gesture, cut flowers aren't a great gift for me...)

greendale17 · 12/01/2019 19:00

Nice but I don’t give them for a birthday or Christmas presents

Alsonification · 12/01/2019 19:00

I hate getting flowers as a gift. I’ve had a few very expensive bunches over the years & all I can think of is what a waste of money. I’d much prefer a plant that I can have for years than flowers that are dead in days.

WhatTimeIsItCuckoo · 12/01/2019 19:00

I think the ones in a bag are meant to stay in them. That's what I've always done, but have also had a few heavier ones sort of collapse on me too. The big vases that a pp mentioned would be good for this though. I only ever buy hand tied bouquets for people who I know take great pleasure in arranging them themselves, like my mum Smile

gimmeadoughnut123 · 12/01/2019 19:01

I like receiving flowers but am very lazy about cutting them and arranging them in a vase. Thankfully DH seems to like doing it. So he buys them for me, and then sorts them out Grin bless him.

Writersblock2 · 12/01/2019 19:02

Love receiving flowers. It’s one of those things I don’t often buy for myself but they make me happy every time I walk past them on my table.

Original poster
Furrypineapple · 12/01/2019 19:02

Totally agree American and also I can’t help feeling that sometimes as a gift they don’t actually require a great deal of thought. Have a wealthy relative abroad who sends them to everyone each year for birthdays. All sorted in the click of a button...

OP posts:
HalfBloodPrincess · 12/01/2019 19:03

I love getting flowers as a gift! You only have to put up with them for so long then you can chuck the out. No clutter!

pepperjack · 12/01/2019 22:51

Love getting flowers-never happens, so I buy my own. Makes me v happy

Yegads · 12/01/2019 23:13

When I buy flowers as gifts, I usually send the bouquets that come in a vase already.

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 12/01/2019 23:16

I hate flowers as gifts. They’re such a waste of money; so expensive on something that’s just going to die out and create work for the giver.

I think it’s a really lazy gift that’s just easy to buy.

MatildaTheCat · 12/01/2019 23:17

I have a two weekly flower subscription which dh pays for. I have to admit that quite often my heart sinks when they arrive as it’s just another job to deal with. I now keep secateurs in my drawer and am pretty quick at arranging them but yes, they can be a chore.

I recognise just how spoiled that sounds.

TheToffeeTruckinTown · 12/01/2019 23:19

I love flowers as a gift! Agree with get a big vase and keep the arrangement how it is.

NormHonal · 12/01/2019 23:20

Thank fuck it’s not just me! I got DH to stop buying me flowers at the start of our relationship. I can deal with the occasional bouquet, but one a week is too many.

DMum is a delight. She always brings me flowers when she comes to stay, but knows where the vases are kept and makes it her first job when she arrives, to cut and arrange them. She knows (from experience) that I won’t bother!

Returnofthesmileybar · 12/01/2019 23:22

I like flowers but I like when dh brings two/three bunches home after he has done the grocery shopping in Aldi, not the expensive ones though, they make me think about what I could have bought instead with the same money

bbcessex · 12/01/2019 23:22

OP - I used to completely agree with you.

I saw flowers as people giving me WORK to do and was in no way grateful, although I understood the gesture.

I’ve discovered #FreddiesFlowers and I’m a convert! They arrive by post, with easy step by step pictures that describe how to arrange them.

Genius. I love giving & receiving them and sound like an advert because I want them to be around for a looooong time 🌸🌸🌸🌸