Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But if you want a greener choice,
What the hell should you do?

The NYT asks that very question (minus the poetic flair, of course) and struggles to answer it:

Reader support makes our work possible. Donate today to keep our site free. All donations TRIPLED!

And as in other industries with increasing demand for green products, the floral industry is debating what is environmentally correct. Should flowers be organic — that is, grown without synthetic or toxic pesticides? Or should the emphasis be on fair trade, meaning that the workers who grow and cut them are safe and well paid? Or should consumers favor flowers grown locally, not flown or trucked over long distances? In other words, what, exactly, is a green flower?

I say forget flowers altogether and send one of these

Unless you really, really want to send me a beautiful bouquet. In which case I’ll be taking deliveries at this address.