Crystal Rose Gift

Cleopatra and her romance with Mark Anthony, are legendary. One of the many gifts Cleopatra is said to have given him was a bathing room she had strewn with scented rose petals that reached depths of three feet. If you live in a part of the world where summers are short and winters are long, saving rose petals so as to replicate Cleopatra's extravagant sentiment may be difficult. A crystal rose gift or two, however, is another option that can be given at any time of the year no matter the weather.

If you happen to be a crafty person and enjoy making things with your hands, you do have the option of purchasing dried rose petals or even making them yourself, if you have not taken the time to save them from your garden for future use. Scent can be added to rose petals so as to replicate the actual fragrance of the real thing. There is certainly something to be said about a gift of rose petals that were cultivated by you, especially if they came from your own garden.

If you are at the other end of the spectrum and either never thought about collecting and drying your own rose petals, or, you have no interest in crafts at all, a crystal rose gift is the perfect option. Some of the crystal rose gifts available are simply stunning works of art, handcrafted by artisans who painstakingly carve every detail of the flower so as to ensure a unique and beautiful design. A crystal rose gift can also be purchased in brilliant color if you are looking to capture the realism of the flower itself. You will love the way a crystal rose gift of color catches the light – it is quite spectacular.

Finding a unique and thoughtful gift is no easy task. So much is dependant on who the recipient is and what message you are trying to send. Giving a crystal rose gift can be seen as the ultimate romantic gesture given it will forever symbolize the love you have for the person receiving it. The meaning in the gift you give is often more important than the actual gift itself and since roses typically symbolize love, you may want to consider the color of the crystal rose gift when making the decision to buy it. Red roses, for example, symbolize love, energy, passion, intensity, and excitement. In different parts of the world red means different things; red in China signifies prosperity and joy and as is the case, brides wear red wedding dresses; the color pink is a symbol of universal love. It is a quiet color, favored by lovers of beauty; blue is a cool color and when at its purest is represents sincerity, spirituality, and inspiration. Blue is also a calming color, making it a wonderful color to decorate with, especially for babies; purple, another popular crystal rose gift color, is a symbol of good judgement and those seeking spiritual fulfillment. Peace of mind will come your way if you surround yourself with purple.

No matter which color crystal rose gift you decide on, just know that the recipient will treasure it for years to come.

Sophia Grace loves rose gifts. You can purchase a rose gift at Plated Gold Roses.

Rose Gifts

Rose gifts are a popular option when wanting to convey how you feel about someone; giving that special person fresh cut roses is usually the first choice. However, there are alternatives to [fresh] flowers, which, at best, will only last a few days before their scent fades and their blooms wither and die - rose gifts that have been dipped in 24K gold, silver or platinum.

Having a rose that never dies would be the ultimate way to say “I love you.” Real roses can in fact be preserved forever when they are either dipped or trimmed in gold, silver, or platinum. Selected when they reach the peak of their beauty, real roses are preserved in a lacquer shell so their natural loveliness and color can come through. Following a 40-step process, whereby skilled artisans and technicians carefully handcraft each flower, they are finished in a precious metal so they can last a lifetime.

According to scientists, there are more than 270,000 species of flower living in the 21st century, all of which have been documented. While they have been able to identify so many different plants, they are still unsure as how they got to be so diverse or whether or not flowers have changed all that much as the planet has evolved.

Woody-magnolia plants, were the first plant fossils ever found – they date back 93 million years. More recently, small herb-like flower fossils have been discovered by paleonbotanists which date back 120 million years. By the middle of the Cretaceous period (146 million years ago), scientists believe that flowering plants called angiosperms, were already quite diverse and could be found in many places during that time period. Many different fossils of both preserved flowers and flower parts, have been discovered in Portugal, England, Sweden, and along the Gulf and Eastern coast of the United States.

With the use of DNA molecules to estimate how old something is, molecular biologists have been able to trace roses back 200 million years. Then, legends involving the beautiful flower began to take shape; The goddess of flowers, Cloris, was responsible for crowning the rose as “queen of flowers;” a rose was given to Eros – the god of love- by his mother, Aphrodite. As was the case, the rose became a universal symbol of love and desire.

During his life (551-479 B.C.), Confucius wrote that the Emperor of China owned more than 600 books, all about the culture of roses. It's believed roses were first cultivated in gardens in Asia more than 5,000 years ago. From the plants that grew in the Emperor's garden, the Chinese people extracted oil from the rose flowers which went on to only be used by dignitaries and nobles at court; if a commoner were ever caught with smallest amount of rose oil, they were put to death.

There is no denying the true beauty and fragrance of fresh cut roses, but since it's now possible to give rose gifts that can last forever, wouldn't it make more sense to go with that option instead?

Sophia Grace loves rose gifts. You can purchase a rose gift at Plated Gold Roses.

Romantic Roses

There is no denying the romance of a rose. After all, we often say “I love you” by giving roses to  special people in our lives. Romantic roses, however, don't live very long; in the garden, they bloom through the spring and summer and then die in the fall and when cut and placed in a vase, their lives are  even shorter, lasting just a few days. With the gold, silver, and platinum dipped process in which traditional romantic roses are able to go through, these flowers will ultimately last a lifetime.

One of the most famous rose gardens in the world can be found at the White House in the United States. It was actually President Washington who first began the plans for a garden there. What is now the South lawn of the White house was once land Washington bought from Davy Burns, a tobacco planter. And, the North part of the grounds, belonged to the Pierce family. It was then John Adams – the first President to live in the White House – who had the first planting of the garden done.

When Thomas Jefferson became President, he began some new traditions in the White House garden by having an entirely new design done; he was the first to plant trees – hundreds of seeding trees – although none have survived to the present day. Jefferson was also the one that had the idea to plant tree groves and he chose where the flower garden would go. 

Edith Roosevelt – President Franklin D. Roosevelt's wife – in 1902, designed a colonial garden with the help of Henry Pfister, who was the White House gardener. The first wife of President Woodrow Wilson, Ellen, went on to replace the colonial garden with a rose garden in 1913; it's where the current rose garden sits and has been known as the Rose Garden ever since.

When President Kennedy took over the White House, he had the Rose Garden redesigned so it could be used as a venue when outdoor ceremonies would take place. While there are different types of events that go on in other parts of the White House garden, in the Rose Garden, things like the pardoning of the turkey every Thanksgiving, in addition to presidential speeches and ceremonies, take place there.

If it's romantic roses you're after, look to dipped roses instead of fresh cut. Roses that are dipped in precious metals, typically go through a 7-day, 40 step process whereby each one is handcrafted to perfection. The roses used under all the gold, silver, or platinum, were picked when they were alive and at their most beautiful. By covering them in one of these metals, the idea of a romantic rose is captured forever. 

Sophia Grace loves romantic rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of romantic roses at Plated Gold Roses.

Red Gold Rose

The next time you need to purchase a gift for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or a Birthday, why not look at buying a red gold rose? These stunning creations are made from real roses, that have been  picked when they are at their most beautiful. To achieve the red coloring, the flower, is dipped in a red lacquer before it goes on to be trimmed in 24K gold. The stem and leaves of the rose are also dipped in gold (leaves may also go through the dipping process with green lacquer so as to duplicate what the real thing looks like). Each red gold rose goes through a 40 step, handmade process before it's finally sealed in gold.

The rose plant has been around for some 35 million years. Today, more than 30,000 varieties of rose exist and its family tree is the most complex of any flower species. With the roses cultivation having taken place 5,000 years ago, these lovely and fragrant flowers have been part of the human experience ever since, even finding themselves woven into many a tale from the ancient world.

In Greek mythology, it was Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who went on to give the rose the name we know it as today. But, Aphrodite didn't create the flower; that was done by Chloris, the goddess of flowers. As the story goes, on a day that Chloris was in the forest cleaning, she came upon the body of a nymph who was lying lifeless on the forest floor. In order to make right the death of the nymph, Chloris went to Aphrodite for help, who in turn gave her beauty. Chloris next sought out the god of wine, Dionysus, who gave her nectar for a sweet scent. The three graces gave Chloris brightness, charm, and joy. The West Wind, Zephyr, was responsible for blowing away the [west wind] so that the sun god, Apollo, could shine, thus making the flower bloom. And so, the rose flower was born.

In yet another ancient story, this one of Hindu origin, the creator of the world, Brahma, and the protector of the world, Vishnu, had an argument over whether the rose was more beautiful than the lotus. Vischnu was of the mind that the rose was the more lovey of the two while Brahma thought it was the lotus which was more beautiful. Unfortunately, Brahma has never seen a rose before, but when he finally did, he took back his original position on the matter. As a reward to Vishnu for being right, Brahma created Lakshmi – a bride made from108 large and 1008 small rose petals. 

Roses haven't always been remembered in ancient history and/or stories with such beauty and loveliness. During the time of the Roman Empire, roses came to represent the worst of humanity as peasants were forced to grow roses instead of crops of food so as to ensure their rulers remained happy; roses were required in abundance as emperors would fill their swimming baths and fountains with rose water; during feasts, they would sit on rose petals that served as carpets. Roses were also used during celebrations as confetti, and could also be found in medicine and perfume.

While a red gold rose might be considered excessive to some, for those that cherish the real thing, a red gold rose is the perfect way to have the flower go on 'blooming' forever.

Sophia Grace is a collector of gold rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of gold roses such as red gold rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses. 

Golden Roses

A golden rose is not what you might think; it's actually a real flower – a rose - that has been preserved forever in gold. A golden rose can be trimmed in gold, or dipped entirely in the precious metal; it's a special keepsake that can be treasured, displayed, and remembered for a lifetime.

By the time the 1800s had rolled around, most of the Chinese roses (which is where roses originated), had made their way into Europe. In 1837, a hybrid perpetual rose (a cross between a Bourbon rose and any other kind of parent species of the flower) was introduced by way of France. It was a hybrid that found its ancestors in the damask, cabbage, tea, noisette, China, and Bourbon roses. This particular rose was very tough, producing large, fragrant flowers. While the original hybrid perpetuals were pink, once crossed with the Bourbon rose species, the red coloring [found in the Bourbon], forever turned up in the line.

Until the turn of the century, hybrid perpetuals remained popular, but were eventually overshadowed by the hybrid tea rose, which was considered a far superior flower. Unfortunately, only about 50 varieties of these roses can be bought today as most of the original creations were lost. At one time, there had been more than three thousand varieties of this flower which had been hybridized during what was referred to as “the golden age of roses.”

When the hybrid perpetual rose was crossed with the tea rose, it produced a hybrid tea that was much more dependable in terms of blooming qualities than that of its 'parent' hybrid. In 1867, the very first hybrid tea rose, called 'La France' was first introduced. In 1893, the hybrid tea class of roses was formally recognized by The National Society of Great Britain. Since that time, it has become one of the most popular types of roses today.

As far as rose breeding was concerned, with the creation of the hybrid tea a new era had begun for these beautiful and popular flowers; before 1867, every type of rose produced was called an 'old garden rose,' and anything new created after that year was referred to as a 'modern rose.'

The beauty of a golden rose is not only that it's a stunning, hand-crafted creation, but it's also a unique gift that can be used to celebrate an all important relationship (just as fresh-cut roses do). A dozen 24K golden roses are worth every penny for that special someone.

Sophia Grace is a collector of golden roses. You can view a huge selection of golden rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

Platinum Rose & Interesting Rose Facts

If you want to give a gift that will last a lifetime, look no further than a real rose that has been covered and preserved in platinum. Platinum is a stunning, dark gray precious metal that is used to ensure through a 40-step process, a platinum rose will last forever. While real roses will fade in just days, the platinum rose will remain strong and lifelike as long as you have it.

It's true that roses are some of the most beautiful and fragrant flowers around, but they are not without their problems. Roses are subject to several diseases, most of which are fungal in nature.

Black Spot is one rose fungus that was first observed in different countries around 1830. It affects the leaves of the rose during the spring when conditions are moist and humid. With wind-borne rain splashing newly sprung leaf tissue on the plants, the disease progresses from leaves on the lowest part of the plant, upward, eventually causing black spots and the leaves to fall off.

The black spots found on rose leaves are circular and have a perforated edge. They reach a diameter of about 0.55 inches. Plants that are badly affected, however, will not have the typical circular pattern as they end up combining together to form large black masses. The usual treatment of Black Spot is to remove the leaves that have been affected and spray the plant with an anti-fungal solution. If left un-treated, some of the stems of the roses could also become infected ultimately weakening the plant over time.

The Black Spot infection can be slowed down by removing already infected leaves as well as leaves on the ground that have fallen. Also avoiding wetting the leaves of the rose plants when watering, can go a long way to helping keep the disease at bay. An infected plant can also be moved from the area in which it has been planted which will slow down the disease to other plants, but this should only be a last resort. Various types of fungicides have proven effective when sprayed as soon as new leaves emerge or, at the first appearance of the disease. The spraying usually has to take place more than once, at 7 to 10 day intervals through the warmest part of the season in which the plant will grow. The Black Spot fungus is most active when temperatures reach anywhere between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

A platinum rose will never have the worry of being infected with a fungal disease. With its platinum coating it is essentially protected from the types o damage that would come to the real thing. A platinum rose will need some light dusting now and again, but other than that, it's simply a lovely, touchable flower meant to last a lifetime.

Sophia Grace is a collector of platinum rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of platinum rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

Plated Rose

A plated rose is one that is handmade using real roses – no two are ever alike. Each rose is carefully selected at the peak of its beauty and then is preserved in a lacquer shell where it goes on to be dipped in 24K gold (gold plated), silver, or platinum. Ultimately, a hand-crafted, plated rose is created which can be enjoyed for years to come.

Roses are perennial plants which means they live on for more than two years. Perennials grow and bloom in the spring and summer and then every fall and winter, they 'die.' When the next spring returns, so does the flower, growing from its root-stock rather than seeding itself as an annual plant would do. 

There are more than 100 species of rose which are classified under the plant family called Rosa. Roses form groups of erect shrubs which will either climb (some can grow up to 22 feet) or trail freely. Their stems are usually covered in prickles which are sharp, needle-like structures. The flowers on the rose number in color, from white to yellows and red with most species native to Asia. Some smaller rose species are native to North America, Europe, and northwest Africa. Many species of rose, in addition to hybrids (an offspring of two rose species fused to become one), and cultivars (a cultivated type of rose plant selected specifically for certain characteristics such as color, form, and disease resistance) are grown primarily because of how beautiful and fragrant they are.

The flowers on the rose generally have five petals, with the only exception being Rosa sericea – it has four. The petals are divided into distinctive lobes which are usually pink or white in color (some species are red or yellow). Under the petals are five (or four if it's the Rosa sericea species) sepals which are the part of the flower that covers the petals when it's in the stage of budding.

The prickles found along the rose stem are usually referred to as 'thorns.' Rose prickles are hook-like in shape and help the plant hang on to other vegetation when it grows over it. There are some species of rose (such as Rosa rugosa which grows on coastal sand dunes) that have tightly packed straight prickles which are likely to keep animals at bay; they may also have these types of 'thorns' so as to be able to trap sand that gets whipped around by the wind which would in itself erode the plant and its roots. Despite the fact that roses have prickles, they are often looked through by grazing deer to see if they have anything worth eating. Luckily, there are some species of rose which have prickles with no points.

With a plated rose, there will never be a worry about pricking your finger on a 'thorn.' While it's true the entire flower (including the stem) is preserved for plating, like the flower itself, the stem is covered in a precious metal during the plating process thereby eliminating the point one would feel on a real rose 'thorn.'

Sophia Grace is a collector of plated rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of plated rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

A Gold Rose Is The Perfect Way To Say “ I Love You”

A gold rose, like the fresh flowers themselves, is the perfect way to say “ I love you;” whether it's for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Birthdays, or just to express your feelings for someone, a gold rose is worth spending your money on.

Rosa x borboniana, is the scientific name for the Bourbon rose; in 1817, from the island of Réunion (once called Île de Bourbon), close to Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, this species of rose was first brought to France. While the background of this rose is not known, it's believed that it is likely a hybrid of the Autumn Damask which was a rose that grew on hedges found on the island. With its recurrent bloom, the Bourbon rose, was a very popular flower in the early 19th century; it was one of the first roses to combine the very best of both European and Asian roses. The color of the original Bourbon rose was a bright pink (which no longer exists today), but there remains hybrids of the Bourbon, which in today's flowers, is still a source of red coloring.

When European and Asian roses were crossed, they also produced  hybrid China class; these were tall plants that were not as attractive as the roses we are used to seeing. In addition, their ability to re-bloom was not very high and on their own, they never became all that popular. They were useful, however, as ancestors for what are now hybrid perpetuals such as hybrid tea roses.

The very first rose that was know to be hybridized in the United States was the Rosa noisettiana, or noisette rose. It was part of the 19th century and was a cross between the musk rose, Rosa moschata, and Rosa chinensis (or the China rose). John Champneys, who was a South Carolina rice grower, hybridized the rose in 1812 and called it 'Champneys' Pink Cluster.' Champneys had no interest in marketing the flower, so instead, he gave his neighbor, Philippe Noisette, a cutting. Noisette went on to send the cutting to Paris, where his brother Louis, was a nurseryman. Louis crossed the cutting – a low-growing rose – with other, much taller roses, and ended up developing a new rose he called 'Blush Noisette.'

From Japan, to the West, in the mid-1800s, came Rosa rugosa – known as the rose of the seashore. It's not a rose that can hybridize well and as a result hasn't contributed to rose history as some others have. For more than one thousand years, however, this particular rose has been of much value for its single flowers, numerous production of hips (the seed pods of roses) which are a great source of vitamin C, and its crinkled foliage.

While the history of the gold rose doesn't go back as far as the real flower, that shouldn't make any difference when deciding on the purchase of one, two, or even three of these beautifully crafted works of art. Like the roses that grow wild on tropical islands or the ones that are lovingly cared for in someones backyard, the gold rose has its rightful place alongside the real thing..

Sophia Grace is a collector of gold rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of gold roses such as red gold rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses. 

Gold Plated Rose

The specialization of gold plating a rose flower, ensures the delicate bloom will last forever. One of the many advantages to having a gold plated rose is that despite the thickness, karat purity, or even color of the object, the surface beauty of the flower is never compromised.

All over the world, fossilized roses have been uncovered over the years, proving that the [rose] did in fact exist in pre-historic times. In the tombs of ancient Egyptians, petrified rose wreaths have been discovered which lends credence to the their spiritual belief that well-being was associated with the fragrant flower.

Both the Greeks and the Romans were worshipers of the rose and used it to not only make themselves smell good, but also to ensure their homes were well scented; rose petals were often scattered across the floor on special occasions and would also be sprinkled in bathwater. They were also believers of the rose as an aphrodisiac and as a result, would sprinkle the petals in both beer and wine.

Roses made their way from the East to Europe via the crusaders. In some circles it's believed that  early tea roses got their name thanks to the tea clippers who were responsible for transporting them from India. Still others believe that the scent of the tea rose actually describes their name.

Napoleon's wife Josephine, amassed an incredible collection of roses from the flowers that were brought to her by her husband's army. She had a dazzling array of exotic plants from around the world, which included the rose flower. Josephine went on to transform a modest estate that was located on the outskirts of Paris – called Malmaison -  into a botanical and zoological garden that even rivalled Jardin des Plantes (a centuries old botanical garden in France).

It was the Persians who were the first to find a way to extract pure rose oil from different varieties of the Damask rose, amongst others. The method was developed over thousands of years and today rose oil is still used in many soaps and toiletries. Rose oil is also a major ingredient in many fragrances which are manufactured by perfume houses found throughout the world.

With more than 30,000 varieties to choose from, gardeners all over the world, choose the rose as their most popular flower. With this endorsement, it's no wonder the gold plated rose is so highly sought after; encased in gold plating, the delicate petals of the rose flower are forever 'frozen' in time, giving their owner the ability to admire them over and over again.

Sophia Grace is a collector of gold plated rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of plated rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.

Gold Dipped Rose

Handcrafted from real roses, a collectible gold dipped rose is the perfect gift to give when wanting to tell someone they are loved. Unlike the real thing, a gold dipped rose will last a lifetime thanks to its preservation in 24K [gold]. Picked when the rose is at it the peek of its beauty, it's then carefully maintained and shaped before finally finished in a rich gold coating.

Thanks to fossil evidence, the long-lasting symbol of love and beauty – the rose – is known to be 35 million years old. Throughout the northern hemisphere there are 150 species of rose which can be found from Alaska to Mexico and as far as northern Africa. The cultivation of roses in gardens began some 5,000 years ago, with the likelihood that this was first done in China. In the Middle East, where roses were broken into pieces to make confetti for celebrations, and where they were also used in perfume and medicine, during the Roman period, the flower was grown extensively. In fact, public rose gardens could be found in the south of Rome, having been created by Roman nobility.

The rose flower was once used as a symbol in the famous “War of the Roses,” where a series of dynastic civil wars took place in Medieval England (from 1455 to 1487) between the house of York (the white rose) and the house of Lancaster (the red rose) for control of the English throne. The struggle ended with the accession of the Tudor monarch Henry VII. The causes of the conflict included: both houses were direct descendants of Edward III; Henry VI, who was the ruling Lancastrian king, had surrounded himself with very unpopular nobles; civil unrest in most of the population; powerful lords who had at their disposal, their own private armies.

During much of the 17th century, roses were in such high demand, royalty deemed both the flower and and the popular rose water, as legal tender, often used in bartering and/or for payment. In the 1800s, Josephine, the wife of Napoleon, created a large collection of roses at their estate – Chateau de Malmaison – which was seven miles west of Paris. Eventually, this garden became the setting for the artist Pierre Joseph Redoute, who was a botanical illustrator. His watercolor collection entitled “Les Rose,” was completed in 1824 and today is still considered one of the best records of botanical art.

A gold dipped rose can easily be made into a lovely indoor 'garden' of 24K goodness. By adding more than one rose dipped in gold to a lovely vase or curio cabinet, you will always be reminded of natures delicate beauty.

Sophia Grace is a collector of gold dipped rose gifts. You can view a huge selection of gold dipped roses at Plated Gold Roses.