Why are flowers such a popular gift option?

Like wine or chocolate? It’s all about showing the person you’ve thought about them. Most of us don’t want more clutter.

OP = DeBeers shill

Like an STD ?

If someone is hosting a party or dinner at their home, they're usually too distracted to enjoy a bunch of flowers, let alone trimming them, arranging them in a vase, etc. I like buying fresh flowers for myself as a treat, maybe just a few times a year. I can pick out exactly what I want, and I know if I'll be home to enjoy them while they last.

I've brought people potted plants as hostess gifts, etc, but with mixed results. I would be thrilled if a guest brought me a nice plant, but not everyone cares for them, I guess.

Why not a nice basket of fruit. To 1870s?

Jeez, I type like a chimpanzee.

I meant "Why not a nice basket of fruit? Too 1870s?"

Don't beat yourself up, R6 -- a chimp wouldn't know the difference between "to" and "too" (or care, if he did know).

I don't want flowers in the house because the cats destroy them, eat the remnants, and throw up -- after shattering the vase in the process. The only safe place for a vase of flowers in my house is in a closet with the door closed where I can't see them and they get no light and wither by morning.

My favorite hospitality gift to receive is fruit or vegetables, from the guest's garden or a farmers' market or an ethnic market where unusual produce (Buddha hand, dragon fruit, etc.) can be found. No need to put it in a basket, a sturdy bag that can be reused by me is fine.

R7, you and me. I’d love that. My SIL would scoff at that because no money was spent.

R8, has your sister-in-law seen the price of dragon fruit lately? And one of my neighbors used to travel a lot pre-pandemic and has a huge collection of fascinating fabric and paper bags from foreign hotels and shops -- she also grows luscious fruit and vegetables, but the beautiful bags she presents them in are equally appreciated.

Are the calla lilies in bloom?

‘Give them something to eat, something that dies or nothing that grows’, that’s my motto.

I’m an all-rounder, so I gave them my word.