On Valentine's Day every man is a bachelor. Even the most married man is on his own when it comes to choosing Valentine's Day flowers. A man simply can't ask the lady for advice.

Valentine's Day Tulips are fast becoming a fashionable alternative to the holiday's traditional gift of roses. Floral experts say the most important thing with either is to buy buds that are fresh and gift-worthy. "Think staying power when choosing flowers," advises Sally Ferguson, the director of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. "For long-lasting flowers, choose tight buds just beginning to open. Fully-open flowers are short-hitters," says Ferguson.

On Valentine's Day, tulips are among the top choices for gift-giving. "Candy is fattening, lingerie risky - but flowers are almost always sure to please," says Sally Ferguson, director of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center in New York. For longer vase life for flowers she advises: re-trim stems before arranging, remove leaves below the water line to keep water fresh, place vases away from sun and heat.

"Think staying power when choosing flowers," advises Sally Ferguson, the director of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. "For long-lasting flowers, choose tight buds just beginning to open. Fully-open flowers are short-hitters," says Ferguson.

"Roses are the most commonly-given Valentine's flowers, but tulips are closing in as a creative alternative," says Ferguson. "Last Valentine's season, one major national floral retailer alone reported delivering three million roses and nearly one million tulips for the holiday," she said.

Ferguson says, with either of these favorites, the most important thing is to buy buds that are fresh and gift-worthy.

The Traditionalist: Picking Perfect Roses
Look for:
• petals that spring back when touched,
• straight stems, classically long for formal vases or stylishly short for low vases,
• all one color is generally preferred,
• deliver roses promptly - they need water and don't respond to sitting all day in a box, unless kept cool,
• use the cut flower food provided by florists.

The Innovator: For Fun, Fashionable Tulips
• look for tight buds with some color showing,
• red, pink, apricot and bi-colors dominate for Valentine's Day, but tulips come in nearly every color under the sun except blue,
• Martha-style monochromatic looks are hot, pick several bunches all in one color,
• color-blocked arrangements are also popular, focus on two to three companionable colors for a harmonious balance not a riot of color,
• skip cut flower food, tulips like plain cool clean water, top off the vase daily, consider potted tulips instead of cut for an unusual gift that keeps on growing. 

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