NPR: Strong, Stiff or Spiky: Flowers For Men

Strong, Stiff or Spiky: Flowers For Men

I'm not giving up gardening for bloggening just yet, but I am dipping into a few fertile sites. No doubt we will talk further about the myriad of gender issues in horticulture (e.g., why don't my gay friends grow food? why don't my lesbian friends grow flowers?) but I'm not sure I have enough cred with my editors to get anything along these lines past them.

Yet.

In the meantime, I might direct your attention to an entry from The Human Flower Project exposing a few myths about men and flowers.

Consider this manly boutonniere:

"...many florist and gift-giving websites caution readers that men may only respond positively IF they receive particular kinds of flowers, for example (a) a blooming cactus; (b) dark-colored flowers; (c) tall and sturdy flowers; or (d) flowers surrounded by strong, stiff, or spiky foliage...."

Better stock up on that Eryngium, girls. Plant any and all species in this architectural genus in full sun and fast-draining soil. I admit, they're hardly unusual. But like a good man they are surprisingly uncommon.

1:23 AM ET | 07-11-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Ketzel, you are building cred with your editors!

Sent by Wright Bryan | 10:43 AM ET | 07-12-2007

I spend quite a bit of time on discussion boards devoted to palms and other exotics as well as some time on general gardening sites. I've always been surprised at the lack of female participation on the exotic gardening forums.
In an essay I wrote a few years ago titled "Petunias are from Venus, Palms are from Mars", I asked people about gender-based preferences in horticultural passions and got lots of interesting opinions. I've been involved in orchids for about 20 years and the gender split seems about equal. About two-thirds of the rhododendron fanatics I know are male. But make it roses or tulips and men really fade away. Focus on palms, tree ferns or other big exotics and you'll likely have an exclusive boy's club with no women at all.

Sent by Steve | 12:46 PM ET | 07-15-2007

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Ketzel Levine

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