Our focus today is the flower of love and I know some of you believe I am talking about roses but you are so far from the truth. The flower of love is actually a strawberry. The strawberry a member of the rose family is very unique. When a strawberry flower is pollinated, the fruit doesn’t swell. The fertilized ovaries in the flower form separate, small, dry fruits.
Those “seeds” on the outside of a strawberry are actually the fruits, each of which contains a single seed. The ripe, red, fleshy part that we think of as the strawberry is actually the swollen receptacle tissue technically the reproductive part of the plant. When a strawberry flower is pollinated, it triggers the receptacle tissue to grow and change. So technically, giving a strawberry is like giving a bouquet of roses if you count each seed as a budding flower. I don’t believe your loved one would accept that as a substitute so you better get some real roses. Don’t discount adding simple new and innovative ideas to your standard valentine celebration, such as adding a special note; setting a romantic mood and writing and reading poetry all things that don’t cost anything.
Adding strawberries to a glass of white wine can enhance the flavor and appreciation for the wine. Your challenge is to find an interesting way to use and experience strawberries in your Valentine celebration.
Strawberry nutritional information: Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and also contain decent amounts of folate (vitamin B9) and potassium. Strawberries are very rich in antioxidants and plant compounds, which may have benefits for heart health and blood sugar control.
The simple things are sometimes the things with the biggest impact. Enjoy and experience your loved ones, Happy Valentine’s Day., and let me know how it goes with your comment.
By Rolin Gordon
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