Roses are red but give me something else instead

Manuela Lipsham says some people have specifically requested not to have roses this year. Photo / Georgina Campbell

Roses are red, violets are blue, and... wait, roses?

It seems people are looking beyond the traditional red rose this Valentine's Day.

Wellington florist shop Flowers Manuela was filled to the brim with blooms this morning while staff darted around arranging, wrapping and sending them off.

Owner Manuela Lipsham said there had been a handful of orders for roses but most people wanted something a little more creative.

"We don't get too many roses but we do get beautiful quality ones for the people who want to do long-stemmed, big-headed red roses. Usually we do a very natural organic kind of mix, field sort of wild-style bouquets.

"There's been a few orders with 'please don't put roses in, we just want to do a mixture just to say I love you, that I'm thinking of you on the day'."

Lipsham said many people had brought pictures from Pinterest to show her what they wanted for their special someone.

If it isn't the lack of creativity in a bunch of red roses putting people off, it may be the price.

Lipsham said one stem could cost anywhere between $8 and $20.

"It just depends on how tall you want it, how big a head you want. Also, the quality of the top grade lasts for a lot longer, while others can wilt and only do the trick for the day."

Roses or not, Lipsham said she had spent more than a week organising hundreds of orders for February 14.

"We have a lot of fun, we try not to stab ourselves with the roses and just make it a lovely day for everyone.

"We're at the end of the sprint now."