There is a reason the phrase 'say it with flowers' came about: few other gifts are as beautiful, special, and memorable. Whether you're congratulating someone on a new baby, thanking them for something, or just wanted to give them something beautiful, there'll be the perfect flowers for the occasion.

The first step is deciding exactly what type of flower-gift you're going to go for. The most obvious choice is a bouquet and indeed, their popularity is well earned. Not only is a bouquet great when you first present it, the recipient can also use it to brighten up their home or office.

Choosing where to buy the gift from is another important consideration. The most obvious choice is probably a supermarket or a Florist. Supermarkets offer varied, cheap flowers: they're a great option if you're in a hurry but not the best if you're looking for something really special.

A better option for a special occasion is to visit a Florist. One of the biggest attractions of a florist is that you can talk directly to the staff, meaning you can get advice on flower-choices from knowledgeable and experienced people. Another advantage is that they can arrange the flowers for you, ensuring maximum aesthetic impact on presentation to the recipient.

Online websites selling bouquets are becoming an increasingly popular means of flower-giving. A Google search will reveal how many there are out there, meaning you can be sure to find something which caters to your taste. One major advantage of these websites is that they often offer delivery (even overseas in some cases) so that even if you can't be there your flowers can. They also have an exceptionally good range of flower choices.

Flowers can often be quite expensive ? on average, a decent bouquet will cost around ?30-?40. Most of this expense comes from shipping exotic flowers in from over-seas, or in growing flowers which are out of season. This means that choosing locally-grown, seasonal flowers in your bouquet can dramatically lower cost without sacrificing quality.

Another way to ensure value for money from your flowers is to make them last as long as possible. Plant food, which you pour into the water the flowers sit in, will help you do this. Plant food works by increasing the acidity of the water, meaning that anything which does this will work. Some bouquets come with special plant food, another option is to use something like 7-Up or Sprite for a home-grown solution.

Another option is to cut stems at a 45 degree angle with a razor-sharp knife. It is very important you use a knife to do this rather than scissors, as these can crush the flower stems. Cutting the stem at an angle akso allows water to reach the upmost surface area of the flower. Finally, put your bouquet in a clean glass vase ? metal vases can alter the pH of the water and a clean vase will mean there aren't any bacteria around to kill the flowers.

Maricruz Tennill is a freelance writer and horicultural expert. They recommend Interflora for florists in York.