Fresh flowers a stylish hostess gift during holidays

It’s enough to make you feel sorry for flesh flowers. In spite of their aromatic elegance, the only times most people ever think of buying them are for weddings, funerals, Mothers Day, and apologies.

Silk floral arrangements are nice. They can last forever. My mother twisted and shaped them into many a breathtaking work of art, including several years at her Bella Cosa Flowers and Gifts shop near downtown Lexington, Ky. But some of her best work was with fresh flowers, literal works of art with the added benefit of natural aromatherapy.

All sorts of beautiful blossoms bloom every season of the year - including the holidays. If you’re hosting a gathering, even the most modest arrangement can bring a venue to life. If you’re attending a party and are unsure about an appropriate hostess gift, think past the clichéd bottle of wine and consider how a lush arrangement can take the meal table from so-so to unforgettable.

Delivered ahead of time, a custom floral arrangement heralds your arrival with style. Brought with you and presented with a warm greeting, they’re sure to brighten the face of the event host as well as the entire room. Any way you give it, a thoughtfully selected arrangement is a reminder of your presence that day and a hallmark of impeccable taste.

After the holidays, a fresh floral arrangement is an easy way to stave off the dreary winter doldrums that can sometimes bring you down after the holidays have passed. As Old Man Winter digs in his heels and plunges many regions into a cold, wet mass of brown, you can give yourself a lift by not waiting for spring to arrive to enjoy some of nature’s most magnificent and varied expressions of scent and color.

Many arrangements come in creative containers and can be delivered the same day of purchase. Flower-of-the-month clubs are popular gifts, and sources such as HonestFlorist.com offer options for every budget and occasion. Click on the picture to peruse more options and to shop.