Kevin Sharkey Arranges Roses

Editorial director of decorating for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Kevin Sharkey, arranges roses.

Rose Arrangements

Fun Facts
- The rose is the emblem of England and became the national floral emblem of the United States in 1986 under Ronald Reagan. It is also the state flower of Iowa (wild prairie rose), New York, Georgia (Cherokee rose), North Dakota (wild prairie rose), and the District of Columbia (American Beauty).

- In the ancient world, roses were not primarily grown as decorative plants. The flower's oil was popular commercially and also used medicinally in the form of distilled rose hips, leaves, and roots.

- According to the Society of American Florists, Valentine's Day is the number-one holiday for florists. It was also estimated that the number of roses produced for Valentine's Day in 2006 was 189 million. Of those roses purchased, 64 percent were red, 11 percent were pink, 10 percent were mixed colors, 5 percent were peach/salmon, 4 percent were yellow, 3 percent were white, and 3 percent were some other color.

- Archeological evidence shows that the rose has existed in some form for more than 35 million years, and it has been cultivated for at least 5,000 years.

-The rose was a favorite flower of Napoleon's wife, Josephine. She had her gardeners grow more than 250 varieties as well as cultivate new breeds.

- According to the Society of American Florists, Shakespeare sources the word "rose" about 50 times total in all of his works.

- George Washington was not only the first president of the United States, but he was also our first rose breeder.

- According to the Victorian-era language of flowers, different colored roses each have their own symbolic meaning: Red means love and "I love you," pink means grace and indecision, white means innocence and secrecy, and yellow means friendship and jealousy.

Care Tips
- To determine the freshness of roses, press the stems tenderly at the base. They should be firm to the touch.

- To condition the roses, trim the bottom of each stem at a sharp angle (keeping the stem underwater, if possible), which exposes the surface area exposed to water. Wrap them in paper, and stand them in a bucket of cool water that contains flower food; let them rest for a couple of hours. This will ensure that the blossom heads do not droop.

- To remove thorns from roses (always a good idea if you're giving them to someone you love), use a stem stripper, or use a sharp knife to pare them.

- If your roses are wilting, give them a bath. By submerging your roses in a cool-water bath, the pores will absorb water, helping them to plump and revive.

- Removing browning petals from around the outside of the flower head and frequent recutting of the stems can further prolong your arrangement.

Resource
Martha Stewart Flowers

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