Mention Valentine’s Day and our thoughts turn to cards, chocolates and roses. But have you ever wondered how we came to celebrate this holiday?

According to www.history.com, the history of Valentine’s Day and St. Valentine – its patron saint – is a mystery. Valentine greetings can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages and Valentine’s Day as we know it today has remnants of both Christian and Ancient Roman traditions. To read more on the history of Valentine’s Day, visit www.history.com.

If you are planning on buying flowers this February 14, here are some thoughts to keep in mind. Certainly you can order flowers from an online or 800-number referral service, but you won’t know who is actually filling your order or the quality of the flowers being sent. If at all possible, it is better to order from a local florist – especially on Monday mornings when most flower shops restock. To help you locate one, here are my picks for some of the best florists in Marin:

Sausalito Nancy Ann Flowers & Balloons
(A good source for gardenias)		 415.332.6272
 
Tiburon Hearts and Flowers 415.435.1971
or 415.388.6660
 
Mill Valley Bloomingayles
Mill Valley Flowers		 415.381.2272
415.388.7781
 
Larkspur/Corte Madera Bloomers of Larkspur 415.927.7422
 
Greenbrae/Kentfield/Ross Woodlands Floral 415.455.8856
 
San Anselmo/Fairfax Bloomworks 415.453.2478
 
Stinson Beach/Bolinas Meristem Florists 415.868.0666

FYI….The trick to making cut flowers last longer is to re-cut the stems on an angle before putting them in water; and don’t forget to mix in the flower preservative which came with them. Change the water every other day and wash the vase with soap and water at the same time. If you are out of flower preservative, try this: mix 1/4 part 7-Up with 3/4 parts water and add 2-3 drops of bleach.

For more local resources email me at judy@marindreamhome.com.

Posted by:Judy LeMarr