Why give flowers?

The meaning shifts mostly with the relationship.

• Early in a relationship: interest and a wish to please. A modest bouquet with a personal card says more than a spectacular arrangement.

• In a couple, for no reason: proof that the attention is still there. It is often the bouquet people remember most, because nobody expected it.

• After an argument: an apology. Flowers open the conversation; they do not replace it. See our flowers to say sorry.

• To a friend: friendship, support after bad news, or shared joy after good news.

• To a mother or grandmother: gratitude. For May, see our Mother's Day flowers.

• To a coworker: thanks or congratulations. Choose a seasonal bouquet rather than red roses, which still read as romantic.

Color sharpens the message: red for love, pink for tenderness, yellow for joy and friendship, white for respect, and mixed colors for a cheerful mood.

Giving flowers takes visible effort: choosing them, ordering them, sometimes carrying them in front of other people. A man who does it puts himself out there a little, which already shows the gesture matters to him.

To understand the message, look at three things.

• The context: a first date, a birthday, the day after an argument or an ordinary Tuesday all say different things.

• The flowers: red roses keep a romantic meaning. A colorful seasonal bouquet says joy or gratitude.

• The card: this is what removes any doubt. A few personal words matter more than the size of the bouquet.

Don't read too much into flowers from a coworker or a friend who wants to thank you. They simply say thank you, and that is already a lot.

Men rarely receive flowers, which is what makes the gesture stand out. It says admiration, pride, gratitude or love, depending on your relationship and the occasion.

There is no such thing as "flowers for men." Start from his taste rather than a cliché. A few pointers still help.

• Bold or deep colors and clean shapes, if you don't know his preferences.

• A flower bunch of a single variety, easy to put in a vase.

• Roses in deep red for a partner, in white or orange for a friend.

There is no shortage of occasions: a promotion, a graduation, a recovery, Father's Day or a birthday.

• A birthday: the classic, and always welcome. See our birthday flowers.

• A birth: soft tones and a size that is easy to set down. See our new baby flowers.

• A thank-you: after a favor, a dinner or help through a hard time. See our thank-you flowers.

• A bereavement: to show the family your support. The customs are different; read our guide which flowers to give for a funeral.

• No occasion at all: the simplest, and often the most touching.

Think about the person first, then the flowers.

• Their colors: look at how they dress or decorate their home. A bouquet that matches their living room will stay on display longer.

• The setting: on a desk, a compact size. At home, you can go bigger.

• The season: seasonal flowers are fresher. Our seasonal bouquets change with each delivery from our growers; our timeless bouquets keep the same design all year.

• Scent: for a hospital room or someone sensitive to smells, avoid lilies and strongly scented flowers.

At KANEL, every bouquet is arranged by hand in our workshop in Vernier and comes in three sizes.

The card says what the flowers suggest. Write one or two sentences of your own and sign with your first name. The card is free with CHF 55 of flowers or more, and costs CHF 2.90 below that. For inspiration, see our birthday flower message ideas.

We deliver anywhere in Switzerland from Tuesday to Saturday, for orders placed before 4 p.m. the day before, for CHF 14.90. In the canton of Geneva, orders placed before 2 p.m. can be delivered the same day, Monday to Saturday, for CHF 9.90 to 19.90 depending on the address. You can choose the date up to 15 days ahead.