Certain flower types have specific needs or require special care. Below are a few examples. Remember, you can always ask a local florist for floral tips and advice.

Lilies - When the lily bloom opens and produces stamin, make sure to remove them! Be careful, the stamen has a pollen which can stain clothing.

Calla Lilies - Handle these flowers as little as possible. Be especially careful not to touch the flower heads. Callas are extremely sensitive toheat, so avoid placing them next to heat ducts, appliances, even the refrigerator.

Gerbera Daisies - Gerbs are extremely sensitive to bacteria, which causes their stems to bend. Make sure to thoroughly clean the vase and keep the water clean and fresh. If your daisies do start to bend, clean the vase, change the water, and re-cut the stems.

Orchids - Orchids do best cut as a full stem instead of a single bloom. If your orchids wilt, try placing them in warm water for a few minutes. With cymbidium orchids, it is very important to support the stem, otherwise they won’t get enough water. Use a tall, thin vase when arranging.

Irises - With these flowers, start with cold cold water instead of the usual lukewarm. Even add a few ice cubes to the vase to chill the water temperature. Be very careful not to touch the tips of your irises!

Tulips - Tulips have a longer life when they are placed with only other tulips. Placing them with other bulbous flowers, daffodils for example, shortens their vase life.

Roses - When removing foliage from roses, be very careful not to damage the stem itself. Do not remove the thorns wither, as this also hurts the stem/bark. Damaging the bark leaves the rose susceptible to disease. Roses are a very thirsty flower, so change their water and food everyday!

If you are thinking of giving a gift of flowers to a man, (perhaps for your dad on Father’s Day), but are not quite sure which types are appropriate or male savvy, check out the list below for some hints, meanings, and short descriptions.

Agaves - The agave is a rosette of thick, fleshy leaves, usually ending in a sharp point. The leaves appear to grow directly from the root and they have short, tubular, yellow/green flowers.
Agaves symbolize nobility, bravery, and endurance.

Bird of Paradise - “Crane flower.” The bird of paradise has leathery leaves that form a crane-shape and are held upright by stiff stalks. The bloom is a combination of blue and orange petals that grow out of the top of the leaves.
The bird of paradise is a symbol of magnificence.

Camellias - Camellia are typically red, white, or pink waxy, rose-like flowers with bright green, shiny, elliptical leaves.
The camellia represents admiration and perfection, and is a good luck gift for a man.

Carnations - The carnation has hundreds of ruffled petals per flower head with a long, alternating leafed stem. They come in a wide variety of colors including multi-colored.
Carnations mean fascination and distinction.

Gerbera Daisy - This daisy flower is made up of 2 edged ray florets. They are commonly found in red, yellow, orange, white, or pink, but are also hybrid into a wide variety of other colors.
The gerbera daisy symbolizes happiness and friendship.

Roses - Roses have long, alternating leaves and thorned stems. Most ahve 5 petals with 2 lobes per petal. 5 sepals grow below the petals. There are a large variety of types and colors available.
The rose stands for love, passion, and perfection — though each color has it’s own special meaning.

Sunflower - The sunflower has a large flower head made up of disc and ray florets arranged spirally. They have rough, hairy stems and rough, broad leaves. Sunflowers are usually found in colors of bright yellow, maroon, and orange.
Sunflowers represent pride and loyalty.

Other popular flowers for men include all orchid types as well as any tropical flower. Most men prefer to receive flowers that are very bold and vibrant in color.

Here is a list of calender holidays:

New Year’s Eve - December 31st
New Year’s Day - January 1st
Martin Luther King Day - 3rd Monday in January
Groundhog Day - February 2nd
Chinese New Year 2008 - February 7th
Presidents’ Day - 3rd Monday in February
Lincoln’s Birthday - February 12th
Flag Day (Canada) - Februaury 15th
Valentine’s Day - February 14th
Washington’s Birthday - February 22nd
Daylight Savings Day - 2nd Sunday in March
St. Patrick’s Day - March 17th
1st day of Spring 2008 - March 20th
Ash Wednesday 2008 - February 16th
Palm Sunday 2008 - March 16th
Good Friday 2008 - March 21st
Easter - Late March, early April following the moon cycle
Easter 2008 - March 23rd
April Fool’s Day - April 1st
Federal Income Taxes Due - April 15th
Earth Day - April 22nd
Administrative Assistants’/Secretaries’ Day - Wednesday during the last full week in April
Arbor Day - Last Friday in April
May Day - May 1st
National Day of Prayer - 1st Thursday in May
Cinco de Mayo - May 5th
National Teachers’ Day 2008 - May 6th
Mother’s Day - 2nd Sunday in May
Armed Forces Day - 3rd Saturday in May
Victoria Day (Canada) - Last Monday before the 24th of May
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Shavu’ot 2008 - June 9th
1st Day of Summer 2008 -June 21st
Father’s Day - 3rd Sunday in June
Flag Day - June 14th (United States)
Canada Day - July 1st
Independence Day - July 4th
Parents’ Day - 4th Sunday in July
Friendship Day - 1st Sunday in August
Labor Day - 1st Monday in September
1st Day of Ramadan 2008 - September 2nd
Grandparents’ Day - Sunday following Labor Day
1st Day of Autumn 2008 - September 22nd
Rosh Hashanah 2008 - September 30th
Columbus Day - 2nd Monday in October
Thanksgiving (Canada) - 2nd Monday in October
Yom Kippur 2008 - October 9th
Sweetest Day - 3rd Saturday in October
Mother In Law’s Day - 4th Sunday in October
Sukkot 2008 - October 14th
Bosses’ Day - October 16th
United Nations Day - October 24th
Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve) - October 31st
Day of the Dead - November 1st & 2nd
All Saint’s Day - November 1st
All Soul’s Day - November 2nd
Daylight Savings Time Ends - 1st Sunday in November
Election Day - Tuesday on or after November 2nd
Veteran’s Day - November 11th
Rememberence Day (Canada) - November 11th
Thanksgiving (United States) - 4th Thursday in November
1st day of Advent 2008 - December 12th
1st Day of Winter 2008 - December 21st
1st Day of Hanukkah 2008 - December 22nd
Christmas Eve - December 24th
Christmas Day - December 25th
Boxing Day - December 26th
Kwanzaa Begins - December 26th
Last Day of Hanukkah 2008 - December 29th

Here is a list of the most commonly used prom corsage flowers and their short descriptions and meaning:

Alstroemerias - Long, cylinder-like gray/green leaves with small star-shaped flowers in loose bunches.
The alstroemeria is a symbol of devotion and friendship.

Carnations/Mini Carnations - Hundreds of ruffled petals per flower head with a long, alternating leafed stem. Comes in a wide variety of colors.
Carnations represent fascination and distinction, and is a symbol for a woman.

Freesias - Little to no foliage, and 5-10 trumpet-shaped flowers with sword-shaped leaves. Comes in white, yellow, orange, red, pink, mauve, lavender, purple, and some bi-colors.
Freesias are a symbol of innocence and trust.

Dendrobium Orchid - Several sprays of dainty flowers on a slender stem (resemble daffodil in shape). Comes in white, magenta, purple, pink, green, red, and some striped variations.
The dendrobium orchid stands for love, nobility, and beauty.

Roses/Mini Roses/Sweetheart Roses - Long, alternating leaves and thorned stems. Most roses have 5 petals with 2 lobes per petal. 5 sepals grow below the petals. Large variety of colors and types available.
The rose represents love, passion, and perfection.

These flowers are the most used in making prom corsages, though there are many other smaller sized flowers that would be equally as beautiful in a corsage design.