Donate two cans of food for the hungry and local florist will give you a dozen roses for $10.00. 2 + 10 = 12. Its called Caring Rose Week and it was started right here in Sioux Falls.

We’re not kidding! Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the nations Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness co-sponsor national Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. It is a perfect time for you and your local florists to help.

The food you donate will go to a nearby food service center who will distribute it to those in your community who need it the most.

Participating florist in Sioux Falls, for example, will give the food that is collected to the Banquet and to the Food Bank. Food collected by your local florist in your town will stay right there in your community.

Your local flower shop will have a design service available for just a little extra. Roses say romance they are the flower of “LOVE” and your florist has Ecuadorian Red Roses and Roses of every color you can imagine.

The Roses you choose or receive will take some special care, but the results will be a long lasting

A care card will come with your roses and a packet of fresh flower food. Remember to mix the food according to the label instructions.

If your roses come in a container, add fresh flower food every day, if you run out – stop into your favorite flower shop and get some more.

Every three days replace the fresh flower food completely, re cut the roses, under water and place them back in the container, this will help your roses last.

If you have questions about how to care for roses – log onto KSFY.com and then on the In Bloom link and send a message I will be happy to send you information on how to care for them.

Avoid placing your Roses in direct sunlight, on heat producing appliances or in a cold or hot draft.

Remember 2 + 10 = 12. “Roses are the perfect gift of Love.”

By Patrick M. Gustaf, AAF, SDCF, Gustaf's Greenery, Inc.