What I believe: Flowers open hearts

What I believe:  Flowers open hearts.

When you receive flowers, the doors of your heart swing open.

When you give flowers, doors swing open in response.

Expressing love and kindness through flowers - to a friend, family member or lover - is faster and less complicated than words and communicates so much about you, too.

Research proves, as I always believed, that flower givers are thought of as caring and loving people who appreciate beauty.

Flowers for Friendships

One of the best-kept secrets is that a gift of flowers from one friend to another is the perfect fit, and the flower power can be immense.  Pick a flower or flowers that remind you of your friend's unique spirit, and include a note linking the flower to them. One of the greatest gifts you can give a person is the gift of really seeing them, especially at the times that matter most.

There is something magical about sharing your life's path with a friend for those important milestones... marking special times with flowers will keep you in their memories forever. Congratulate them on a professional achievement, a baby or anything new, or send a big dose of love when they really need it most, after a break-up or a spell of bad news.

The time to build a friendship is when it's strong, so one of my favorite times to express my appreciation is when they're least expecting it.

Flowers for Romantic Relationships

Sending flowers to a romantic partner is a natural way to express your emotions - with an added bonus.  Flowers show how special and caring you are, too.  The truth is that great relationships take love and care, not hard work. If you step out of your busy life, and take a moment to be spontaneous with the simple gift of flowers, you'll be surprised with how much love you get in return.

My first - and perhaps best - piece of advice is to surprise your love with flowers in unexpected places in unanticipated ways.  For instance, put the flowers in a place that your love won't immediately see them, but instead discovers them by surprise.  Or, have flowers put on her office desk before she gets into work for the morning. Flowers coupled with the element of surprise are a match made in heaven.  If you, for instance, put a flower on the passenger seat of your love's car, when she sets off to start her day, glances over and sees your gift, WOW! her entire day just changed. It got the stamp of a smile from you.

Smart lovers know that flowers are like bursts of love you can give any day of the year to create a deeper intimacy with the people you love.  No matter how busy life gets, or what challenges you face, remember the bond between you is what matters most.  Think beyond tradition, and send her (or him) flowers that remind you of a memory only the two of you have.  Did you meet in spring?  Freshtulips or a mix of spring blooms might be the key.  Does she have a sunny personality? Sunflowers or flowers in bright, cheerful colors will make her take notice.  You get the idea.  Flowers can signify so much - it's just up to you to make your move.

Finally, when you order flowers, tell your florist what statement you want the flowers to make. From a tender "you're sweet" to a more direct "I think you're hot," and anywhere in-between, a floral arrangement can be designed to communicate your feelings, and your florist can be your cupid any time, all the time.

Flowers for Moms

Let's face it.  Moms deserve a floral reward just about every day of the year.  And, what moms want more than anything is to feel their kids' love.  So, how easy is this?  Pick a day, any day, and send her the kind of flowers that express your love.  Choose flowers that say something about her.  Does she love purple?  Does her favorite painting have daisies?  Did she carry roses at her wedding?  On her birthday, tuck an old photo of her and you into the card with a note saying "another year younger."   Or, send her flowers you grew in your garden growing up.  For many of us, an aunt, a godmother, in-law or even a family friend has been a mom to us.  Return the love with a gift of flowers saying, "Thank you for the impact you've made on my life.

Flowers at Work

By now, we know the ability of flowers to instantly boost our mood.  Who doesn't need that at work?  Here are a few ways flowers can work overtime:

• Deliver flowers to a colleague's desk for an unexpected friendship surprise.
• Say thank you to co-workers who've put in extra time.
• Apologize for a missed deadline.
• Keep flowers on your desk just to freshen up your space.
• Or on Monday, pick up a bunch of flowers to keep a group space cheerful all week long.