Yeah, *for me,* if a guy gave me flowers on the first date, I would be all, hey, trying too hard, dude! But I like getting flowers, particularly for no reason. I don't expect flowers...well, *ever,* but especially on mandated dates like Valentine's Day.

Flowers are in the category of Can Be A Genuinely Thoughtful Thing Given To [Sweetie] To Make [Sweetie] Smile. (Of course, they can also be in the category of Oh Crap, I Think I'm Expected To Produce Something; Flowers It Is.)

But other things can be in the category of Can Be A Genuinely Thoughtful Thing Given To [Sweetie] To Make [Sweetie] Smile. For instance, one night early in our relationship, Tim and I loafed in bed making mobius strips. A few days later he brought me a mobius strip he made out of metal.

It sits on the TV, b/c it can be seen from just about anywhere. And I do grab it and throw it in my Panic Bag when we go downstairs for tornado warnings, etc. I love it more than flowers. But I also think flowers are lovely and sweet when they're just a nice gesture, not something he feels forced to give.

What is the deal with flowers? They just die.

Do you mean why do people give them, or why do they just die?

I rather liked George Bernard Shaw's comment, when a friend asked him why he had no flowers around his house: "I like flowers, I also like children, but I do not chop their heads and keep them in bowls of water around the house."

Flowers are pretty! And I feel like they're rare enough that they make an impression. That said, I think they're great for, say, a SECOND date. First date, that's a bit much. Also, because it's better if your'e bringing them to the house, rather than giving them to someone when you're meeting up somewhere and they have to drag them around all evening.

...I can think of four occasions I've gotten flowers, though I'm pretty sure I've gotten them other times. Once in college...memorable more for the aftermath, when we were playing "Taboo" and a friend had helped him pick the flowers, and the word was "carnations" and I said to her "cheap roses!" and she busted out laughing...having suggested to him that carnations were a poor plan. Then there was a rose (from a gay man, on a group date--he got one for each of us) before a ball, also in college. The first girl I ever dated showed up with a sunflower on one of our first dates. And then the memorable "I tried to match the flowers to your hotel room" adorableness.

If flowers plural are too much for a first date what about a single rosebud? Still too much? Or just too corny/cliche?

If flowers plural are too much for a first date what about a single rosebud? Still too much? Or just too corny/cliche?

For me personally, I would think it was sweet but trying a little too hard.

I once made for a date a corsage entirely of origami flowers. (She declined to wear it.)

billytea, that is awesome!! Though I'm not sure how I feel about wearing corsages that aren't wrist corsages.

Typo, I think roses are overrated--tulips! irises! a sunflower! but yeah, if it were someone I was super excited to be on a date with I'd probably be like "OMG SQUEE!"...and otherwise it might make me go "er, are you way more into this than I am?"

Typo, I think roses are overrated--tulips! irises! a sunflower! but yeah, if it were someone I was super excited to be on a date with I'd probably be like "OMG SQUEE!"...and otherwise it might make me go "er, are you way more into this than I am?"

To which the only appropriate response could be "Well, of course I am. I mean, have you seen you?"

billytea, that is awesome!! Though I'm not sure how I feel about wearing corsages that aren't wrist corsages.

My flower-folding capability has improved since thern. This is my favourite design: [link]

My sister's ex, knowing she couldn't have real flowers because of the cats, once gave her a rose dipped in gold. It was Too Much and not to her taste, I think she sold it. That wasn't for a first date, though.