| Replica cars, comic boxers, laminate tie-hangers - one | | | | in question have been bestowed with blossoms. |
| can't help thinking that dads have pulled the short | | | | Send flowers and push the envelope |
| straw when it comes to impromptu gifts. Of course it's | | | | According to Texas A&M University, flowers in |
| the thought that counts, but do fathers derive the | | | | the workplace also augment men's problem-solving |
| same pleasure from tatty trinkets received in June as | | | | skills. Over a period of eight months, the men who |
| mothers do from the bouquets they get sent in May? | | | | participated in the study came up with 15 per cent |
| It seems unlikely, yet, year after year, we refuse to | | | | more ideas than usual when working in a florally |
| take a cue from the delight experienced by the distaff | | | | enhanced environment. So, if you're a casualty of |
| side. Is it because we're victims of social stereotypes, | | | | uninspired dinnertime chatter or lugubrious bedroom |
| or do men really not get the same frisson from | | | | antics, perhaps a strategically placed bunch of flowers |
| flowers? | | | | in the home will get your guy thinking... |
| It's true - boys do want bouquets | | | | So, some pink peonies for him, then? |
| Contrary to popular belief, most men seem to rather | | | | Just because men do enjoy being given flowers (or at |
| fancy a bit of floral pampering. In 2003, over 60 per | | | | least respond well to receiving them), it doesn't |
| cent of men surveyed by the Society of American | | | | automatically follow that they like getting the same |
| Florists admitted they would like to receive flowers on | | | | types of flowers as women. Flowers as a whole may |
| Valentine's Day - and that was a good few years | | | | have shaken off the outmoded mantle of |
| before 'metrosexual' entered our common parlance. | | | | non-manliness, but there are certain varieties that are |
| An ICM poll from the same year also revealed that | | | | considered too feminine and frilly for more masculine |
| just as many men as women thought they might be | | | | tastes. |
| given flowers on a Friday as a prelude to a good | | | | That's not to say anything pink is an a priori no-no. In |
| weekend. | | | | the early 20th century, pink was actually the favoured |
| Give flowers and get social butterflies | | | | colour for boys, so anyone who insists that only blue |
| What's more, men who receive flowers are generally | | | | will do really is a herd-following conservative. True, men |
| nicer to be around (unless, of course, you've got a | | | | do tend to like blue - on the whole, they are attracted |
| penchant for grumpy fellows). In a study undertaken | | | | to bolder, more vibrant colours, including reds and |
| by academics at Rutgers University, lone elevator | | | | yellows. They also tend to prefer cleaner-edged, more |
| travellers were presented with a single gerbera stem, | | | | architectural flowers, such as bamboos, ginger lilies and |
| a pen, or nothing at all, or exposed to a basketful of | | | | gladioli. Tropical flowers are usually a good bet, then, as |
| Transvaal daisies. The researchers then attempted to | | | | their bright hues and modern shapes are a far cry |
| engage the inter-floor itinerants in conversation. | | | | from the fussy petals of more feminine flowers such |
| Taking into account head movements, eye contact, | | | | as carnations and peonies. |
| proxemic behaviour and polite versus genuine | | | | Each to his own, however, holds true. If you're |
| (Duchenne) smiles, the researchers concluded that | | | | choosing flowers for a man, take a bit of time to think |
| "both men and women were as likely to respond with | | | | about his favourite colours and shapes. And don't limit |
| more social behaviors when receiving flowers versus | | | | yourself to Valentine's Day, it's high time our gentlemen |
| receiving pens or receiving nothing". So whether or not | | | | friends become as accustomed to a bit of spoiling as |
| men admit to being pleased by gifts of flowers, most | | | | our ladies. |
| people are likely to prefer male company if the males | | | | |