JFF- Vase or No Vase?

Updated on February 07, 2015
S.T. asks from Sharpsburg, MD
20 answers

it's funny how things change with time. when i was young i loved getting flowers IN a vase because ... well, i got a vase. and a vase AND flowers just seemed like more love.
after periodic purges of the basement, and trips to goodwill with the damn things wrapped and hoping they'd make it, and after years of accumulating some really beautiful vases which i love, i'm no longer so whoopie on having yet another cheap vase (or even not-so-cheap ones) come with the flowers. i want to select which one of my treasured ones most suits the flowers and put 'em in myself.
even though i am sadly deficient in flower-arranging skills.
what about you? do you like getting another vase for you collection when the FTD man shows up? or do you prefer your surprise bouquets to be naked?
:) khairete
S.

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So What Happened?

you guys are awesome! what fun to read these responses!
and yes, kristin, you're totally weird<G>>
:) khairete
S.

Featured Answers

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I have one favorite vase for larger arrangements and one for smaller. I prefer to display flowers in those, so no vase for me.

But I'm not complaining if one comes either!

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

It depends on where they are from and who picked out the flowers. I haven't had flowers delivered to me in so long that I'd be thrilled to get any at all (I pick up a bunch for myself at Trader Joe's when grocery shopping), but my preference is no vase because, like you, I have 50 millions vases already.

That said, I do have one friend who has sent the most gorgeous arrangements from really good florists (Winston's in Boston) and those have come with really beautiful, unusual vases - cubes, one that looks like an old-fashioned milk pitcher, a short, round cylinder (no tapering). I'll take another one of those any day!

ETA: for those who aren't good at arranging, I use this page to get inspiration. They use seasonal flowers that are usually readily available, tell you what's in each arrangement, and provide clear photos. Mine don't look quite as good, but it's better than plopping a bouquet in a vase and cheaper than dropping $95 on a vase of tulips and leaves.

https://www.winstonflowers.com/collection/2015/winter

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W.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I love flowers. However, they don't love me. I get horrible headaches from flowers. So I cringe when the FTD truck shows up.

I HAD a lot of vases. As my husband LOVED to send/give me flowers. Then he would notice that I had a runny nose or blood shot eyes...all from the flowers...so he stopped. He gives me PICTURES of flowers! LOL!! Or he'll send Edible Arrangements.

IF I get flowers? I prefer them "naked" as I have plenty of vases!

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Well, I love naked bouquets and flowers of any kind... and I have about 16 vases:
some small ones for little sprigs of herbs and small flower

some larger, heavier ones for bigger bouquets, forsythia branches, sunflowers

some middle-sized ones which have different designs for different arrangements: helleborres, tulips, daffodils, posies of wildlflowers, or large spires of rosemary and lavender

and one special bright one which I always use for my zinnias in the summer.
Should add that some 'vases' are old glass jars or bottles that lent themselves to the eye...

Before I had a garden, I'd go to Trader Joe's and splurge on a couple bouquets, then take them apart and make a few smaller arrangements for my place. LOVE flowers. :)

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J.F.

answers from Las Vegas on

Just like you, I'd prefer to choose from one of my favorite vases.

While doing some organizing the other day, I noticed that it's time once again for a vase purge. I give them to crafty friends or to someone having an event where they need lots of vases or donate to a non-profit.

The trick to flower arranging, I've found, is to not do too much. Cut away excess greens; cut the stems to different lengths; plop them in the vase and quickly shake your hands to separate them, and you're done.

J. F.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I am good either way.

I have some nice vases for flowers that come in naked but I also love it when I receive a unique vase.

Fresh flowers are pretty and I love them. I am not the best arranger but that is ok.

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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I LOVE getting flowers, but yes, I am sick of all the vases starting to pile up. I did recently get a really cute mason jar vase that I have used again for my grocery store tulip purchase. My biggest concern now is WHERE to put the flowers now that I have a cat! He is such a good jumper and very curious and some flowers can be deadly to animals.

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J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I don't mind either way. Sometimes they come with a nice vase (for our anniversary the vase was crystal so I kept it) and sometimes with a cheap glass vase (those go to the Salvation Army or in the recycling bin).

My daughter loves getting flowers too so we use the vases we have and pick up our own flowers.

I'm not very good at arranging either I just put them in.

4 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

I do special events and floral arrangements are a part of my service.

I have beautiful vases...lots of them. We just moved so I did donate a ton of them, but I do not need another vase.

I ask clients, do you have a special vase? I then pick it up or they bring it over..

I rent vases to brides so that they do not end up with a bunch of unwanted vases.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Actually, I prefer NOT to get cut flowers. I prefer potted plants because they're alive, rather than already dead. And yes, even freshly cut flowers are dead.

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

I find that the florist vases are almost always of poor quality and it's not worth it to save them. You see them at yard sales all the time and people just can't give them away because everyone else has a bunch of the same ones in their basement.

When someone comes to dinner, I really appreciate it if they bring flowers already in a vase though. Usually these are better quality because the friend picked them out, not the florist. If I'm prepping for a dinner party, the last thing I want to do is take time away from my guests to find a vase, trip the flower stems, arrange them (which I'm not good at either), etc. And if 2 guests bring them, then what? Where do I display them? Even the center of the dining table is already set with my own candles and trivets and so on, so then there's an awkward scramble to be gracious about the gifts and display them, yet greet guests and prep appetizers and fix drinks.

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R.B.

answers from San Francisco on

No vase. Most vases aren't to my taste, so I prefer to just put them in a simple glass one. It's really supposed to be about the flowers, anyway.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

I loath getting vases. I have two vases, a big one for roses, and a small one. I use to have tons, but I got rid of them and if I get flowers with a vase, it immediately goes. I love my decluttered, simple life, and those vases just are wasteful. :-)

I just want the flowers!!! I love flowers!!!! I want a bigger yard just to plant more flowers!

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A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I prefer naked. I love my vases!

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J.☯.

answers from Springfield on

Flowers? What are those?

I have exactly 2 vases. One I've had so long that I don't remember how I got it. The other was from my husband on our second date, which was on Valentine's Day. We've been married almost 10 years, but I've only gotten flowered twice.

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Naked is always better! 😉

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V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Actually, I don't really have any super *nice* vases, which would be nice to have to put long stemmed arrangements in... But I, too, have accumulated too many of the cheap ginger jar styled ones. They don't always work for new flowers (depends on how many flowers and how long the stems all are, etc).. So for those, a new vase is nice to be ready to go. But I don't really like them.

A nice crystal vase would be ideal. I have started using the ginger jar cheapos for collecting change on my kitchen counter. And on the bathroom counter (again, change/coins). And I stuck some colored eucalyptus in one and use it as a decorator piece. And others I have tossed along the way, or reused and then tossed, or use for various types of gifts (filled with candy).

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm fine with grocery store roses sans vase. I have enough vases and the store flowers are prettier than the ones that arrived in the box half dead. Doesn't take much for me to be happy with my flowers.

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K.N.

answers from Boston on

Hey, I'll take whatever I can get!

Mr. Man is wonderful, but that sort of gesture isn't his strong suit!

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

I guess if I had to accept flowers I'd rather they came in a vase so I could just stick it somewhere and not fuss with it.

I don't like getting bouquets of cut flowers at all though. I like flowers but they belong on the plant. I don't even cut flowers out my own garden. My husband used to send me flowers all the time when we were dating but I eventually had to ask him to stop. While the gesture is sweet, I get no enjoyment out of it. To me, cut flowers are just clutter that I can't really toss out until they wither. Instead of feeling romantic about it, I feel annoyed.

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