A perfect article for Valentine's day and its business side!
Posted by Frenya Tue, 14 Feb 2006 15:08:00 GMT
I just saw an article on Science Daily about how scientists from the University of Florida study ways to extend the life of cut flowers . That might just be my general scepticism towards the good intentions of business, but I think the timing of the release of that article is just perfect!
Basically, the researchers found that if the flowers are kept cold during transportation between the field and the store, they will last few days longer. I thought that was already the standard procedure, but apparently nobody had shown why that was so useful until now! I am glad there are scientists out there who had enough time to show that.
On the other side, it is not going to change my idea that trying to buy locally grown flowers as much as possible is still the best thing to do. Flowers are more fresh than if they were coming from Florida, are as expensive if not less and you allow a local producer to stay in business… I just don’t see a lot of “minuses” in that.
For my final note, I will refer to my favorite poem from Pierre de Ronsard, a poet from the 16th century, France: “Comme on voit sur la branche”, which talks about the life of a rose and the analogy with his lost Love. It is a perfect peom for Valentine’s Day.
“Comme on voit sur la branche au mois de Mai la rose
En sa belle jeunesse, en sa premiere fleur
Rendre le ciel jaloux de sa vive couleur,
Quand l’Aube de ses pleurs au point du jour l’arrose:
La grace dans sa feuille, et l’amour se repose,
Embaumant les jardins et les arbres d’odeur:
Mais battue ou de pluie, ou d’excessive ardeur,
Languissante elle meurt feuille a feuille declose:
Ainsi en ta premiere et jeune nouveaute,
Quand la terre et le ciel honoraient ta beaute,
La Parque t’a tuee, et cendre tu reposes.
Pour obseques recois les larmes et mes pleurs,
Ce vase plein de lait, ce panier plein de fleurs,
Afin que vif, et mort, ton corps ne soit que roses.”
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day and stay ROMANTIC!
