BANGALORE: The Rose capital of India, Bangalore has done it again; something unique and innovative. With red roses blooming and a record export of 50 lakh flowers expected for Valentine’s Day, this time you can celebrate by sending a customised message imprinted on the rose petals to your beloved.
These digitally printed petals with a message of one’s expression of love will either be in black or maroon lettering, intricately printed on pink, yellow or white roses. According to Dr G Shankar Murthy, general manager, International Flower Auction Bangalore Ltd., this unique project, which was introduced last year, became popular and many youngsters loved the idea of sending personal messages digitally printed on roses.
One can choose from the 10 standard digital messages like, “Happy Valentine’s Day, I love you, You are my life, Yours forever,” to be embossed on different rose variants like Pink Nobless, Pleasure, Gold Strike, Inca or Awallence. One can even imprint the name of their beloved but the message should not be more than five words.
These ‘speaking flowers’ will cost more than Rs 50 per stem and can be purchased from IFAB near Hebbal after 3 pm on February 13 and 14, but the order has to be placed on February 11 or 12 itself. One should purchase these flowers only four to five hours before delivering the flower to the person as the ink used is not long lasting and the message will vanish.
The eternal symbol of love, roses are available in 42 variants but the ten variants of red roses are more popular for Valentine’s Day with Grand Gala as the most sought after variety, followed by Passion, Temptation and other varieties. The volume of auction of red roses at IFAB is expected to touch 55 lakh flowers between the February 8 and 14 as the demand and production has been increasing simultaneously every year, says Dr Shankar Murthy and adds that apart from local exporters, the number of buyers from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta and other cities too have been increasing.
Affordable ‘wrapped roses’ for students
Here is some good news for college students: IFAB will be selling “a wrapped package of two red roses” at an affordable price of Rs 50 after the auction hours between 3 and 6 pm. This innovative sale on February 13 and 14 will benefit the student community who would like to express their love or friendship with red roses since the prices peak during this season to Rs 150 per stem. “Entrepreneurs can give bulk orders for this affordable variety,” says Dr Shankar Murthy.
The trading volume at the International Flower Auction Bangalore Ltd that commenced its operation in 2005 has been increasing year after year with the high domestic demand supplemented by increasing production in Doddaballapur, Mysore, Tumkur as well as Hosur in Tamil Nadu.
With many metros gearing up to celebrate the festival of love, it is an ideal opportunity for growers and suppliers to stock roses for the V-Day.