This Valentine's Day

I received the best bouquet ever.

A santan bouquet. Have you heard of such a thing?

The date got me this multi-colored bunch of the common garden flower, santan. If you're unfamiliar with this flower, the santan is a local flower that can be found in most people's gardens, mostly because they're colorful, inexpensive and low maintenance.

Now you're probably wondering why a girl would be so elated to receive such a common flower as gift on the holiday that was made for girls to feel extra special while all the other girls swoon for a dozen roses? I have my reasons.

This bunch now sits on my bedside table

Although I'm not one to turn down flowers (it's a girl thing), I don't really like that thousands and thousands of roses get plucked for Valentine's day to be tied together and sold, only to wilt and be thrown away in a few days. So this time last year, as a joke, I requested a dozen santan flowers in all possible colors instead of the typical red roses. And I got it.

Putting together a santan bouquet takes preparation. Santan wilts quite quickly, so timing is a key ingredient. And although common, not all colors and varieties are present in one garden. He got pots of santan in  different colors weeks in advance and waited for them to bloom before arranging them in a bouquet and presenting them to me. I've never been more smitten. Like always, more than anything else, it's the effort that makes this girl's heart flutter.

Whoddathought this guy would have a knack for flower arranging?

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. (I know it's a few weeks late but it's still February anyway. It's my excuse for the sap.)