Nothing says “I love you” like fresh flowers on Valentine’s Day. While red roses remain the staple, there is so much more available. The bouquets at local florists are cut and crafted with care. Not only do they last longer, but they also include personalized touches that make them memorable.

Each flower has a different meaning: some for friendship, others for longevity. At Bayport Flower Houses, each bouquet is made to say what you want them to say. Founded in 1932, Bayport Flower Houses has spent decades helping Long Islanders express emotions through floral design.

Exchanging flowers on Valentine’s Day is a romantic tradition that originates from Victorian times. The concept of Valentine’s Day can be traced to Ancient Rome, but the invention of the postal stamp in 1840 made it possible for valentine cards to become widespread, but flowers come in when you have more to say then words.

“Flowers have a language all to themselves,” says Christine Saroka, fourth-generation co-owner and floral shop manager at Bayport Flower Houses. “Ever since Victorian times, people have used flowers to communicate feelings.”

Floriography, the language of flowers, also dates back to early human civilization. It was first put into Western dictionaries in the early 1800s and Victorian women would use these dictionaries to understand what the flowers mean.

Understanding flower symbolism can help personalize a bouquet:

Buying Valentine’s flowers from a professional florist can significantly improve longevity compared with mass-market bouquets. At Bayport Flower Houses, they go the extra mile to hydrate flowers before adding them to bouquets. Christine says their customers are surprised how long the blooms last.

“It takes skill and care,” Christine explains. “That really is why we do what we do. To bring joy to people.”

If you want to go beyond buying flowers this Valentine’s season, Bayport Flower Houses is planning a bouquet-making event around Feb. 15. The workshop, called the Sweetbox Workshop, gives participants a chance to learn floral design basics from professionals.