Very few things convey the feeling of love and adoration better than a dozen fresh red roses. Fossil evidence shows that roses are at least 35 million years old and better than 150 different species thrive on six of the seven continents, though none so revered as the red rose.

Over 5000 years ago, people started gardening with roses. People loved the beauty of roses. They also were used like confetti to be thrown during parties and parades. Rose oil was popular as a perfume and as a medicine.

The tradition of giving red roses to lovers began with the Romans, who had a culture known for incorporating symbolism and promoting elegant tastes. The practice regained popularity in Victorian times, when the very prim and proper society relied on the vibrant red roses and flowers of other colors to convey the feelings that they could not express verbally or tactically. It was then that flowers of all sorts began to take on secret meanings.

Besides just the color of one dozen fresh cut red roses, did you know that you can send an additional meaning? The degree to which the bloom is open means something, too. A bouquet of closed buds symbolizes youthful innocence. A fresh arrangement of red roses that are fully opened and bloomed symbolizes a love in full swing, appropriate for steady relationships or anniversaries.

The number of roses you give, in addition to the shape of the bloom, is important for the occasion. For a couple that just met, a single rose is a simple symbol of beginning. Giving a mate a dozen florist arranged fresh red roses conveys the message of continuing love.

You can use pink roses to send a message. Choose the shade of pink that will convey the right message. Dark pink roses mean appreciation and respect. Light pink means sympathy. If you blend red and pink roses you send a message that says you feel that the recipient is beautiful and vibrant.

The value of a dozen fresh red roses has grown drastically over the years due to the great care and work that it takes gardeners to cultivate them. But, the ease of choosing flower delivery via the phone or Internet has made the once difficult process of sending loved ones a message of love easier than ever.