One of the most plentiful and exotic species of flower, orchids have always been in great demand. In the Victorian era, expeditions were led to find rare variations of orchids that were eventually sold at auction for exorbitant prices. The ongoing popularity of their exotic grace was even given its own name: orchidelirium. One look at the exquisite lines of the orchid effortlessly explains why the Victorians were in such a delirium over this flower, and they continue to be one of the most passionately collected blossoms in the world. Luckily, today, the orchid is an easily available and affordable flower to own, as well as a discriminating gift to be cherished.
Orchids add effortless elegance to any room. Favored by Martha Stewart, they’re a flower that can make the shabby chic and are so dramatic that they need little more than a simple vase to showcase their exotic beauty. With their large, fanned out petals and their simple, unadorned leaves, they boast a vast wardrobe of style. Single-flowered orchids are the society matrons of flowers: genteel and weighty, graceful in their downward arching growth. Or there’s the multi-flowered orchid with its abundance of flowers, flush with color in bunches of blooms. No matter what flowering guise the orchid wears, it becomes the focal point of any room or centerpiece.
But orchids are much more than a stunning decoration. No gift could be more luxurious – or more romantic – than a bouquet of orchids and a box of gourmet chocolates. Perhaps these flowers pair so well with the decadence of chocolate because one of the most alluring ingredients in chocolate – vanilla – is from its own variation of orchid. From culinary fare to alluring perfumes, orchids lend class to everything they touch. Their fragrance graces designer perfumes from Dior’s J’adore to Jean Paul Gaultier’s Classique. And while fragrance can be such a personal thing, the orchid itself is an infallible hostess gift – and a testament to the gift giver’s own incomparable sense of beauty and impeccable taste.
Whether you’d like to add the class of orchids to your own home décor or send them as a gracious gift, FTD.com has a variety of bouquets suitable for any occasion.