Roses are red, violets are blue- is this the year my luck comes through?

Valentine’s Day is a magical holiday full of romance, sweet gestures, and grand declarations of love. At least, that’s what the greeting card industry tells us. For me? It’s an annual exercise in cautious optimism—hopeful that this year will be the one that finally breaks my streak of lukewarm Valentine’s Days.

Then again, given my track record, that’s not saying much.

Let’s start with a simple fact: I have always been a flower girl. I adore fresh bouquets, the sweet scent of roses, the charm of a well-arranged bunch of sunflowers (my favorite) or daisies. And yet, despite my evident enthusias...