It’s a question that often comes up on a second or third date. An innocent question with a more innocent answer:

What’s your favorite flower?

The follow up question always pops up in my head but I never ask it aloud: Will you actually use this information? Are there flowers in our future?

Do you have a spread sheet in a secret folder on your computer? One that lists the name of ever lady you’ve dated with columns for “Favorite Flower”, “Favorite Candy”, “Favorite Sex Position”? It might not be such a bad idea. Because once you ask, kind sir, know that I shall be disappointed if/when you forget my answer.

For any gentlemen callers actually reading, you’re in luck. This blog notoriously provides a cheat-sheet on dating me.

Tulips. My favorite flowers are tulips.

And lucky for me, my favorite flower is all over New York City this time of year.

Unlike my bemoaned lack of a Magnolia Festival, there is an official celebration for my favorite flower! Every spring the West Side Community Garden hosts a Tulip Festival. Seeing as no man in my life is currently showering me with flowers, I had to go check it out.

Who am I kidding, I would’ve gone even if I had a fella who filled my entire apartment with tulips every weekend! (Cheat sheet: NOT suggesting you do that!)

West Side Community Garden Tulip Festival

Surprise #1: tulips alive and basking in the sunshine are much prettier than those cut and confined to a vase.

Surprise #2: I’m not the only person in NYC obsessed with tulips. Tulip enthusiasts flocked to West 89th Street in droves. None of us were disappointed. These brightly colored beauties put on a festival worthy show. Just by being themselves.

They’re pretty, pretty, purple, yellow, red, and pink selves.

Sunshine on tulips and pups with their misters

Walks in the park, wearing shoes with no blisters

Slushy gray winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things.

What are a few of your favorite flowers? Do you ask people you’re dating what their favorites are and make a point to remember? Anyone willing to admit to a spreadsheet?

Also, flowers seem to be such a gendered gift. I feel confident saying: Many women like receiving flowers. I do not feel I can say the same about men. Do you agree? Am I wrong? Has anyone ever bought a man a bouquet? If you are a man, have you ever received one? How did you/do you think you’d react, dudes?

I once wanted to give a man I’d been dating two months something to congratulate him on a exciting new job promotion. Flowers didn’t seem right. Other options- dinner, a bottle of scotch- seemed too big for where we were in the relationship. I ended up not getting him anything, which was the right choice given that he ghosted me a week later. But I still want to know- what’s the dude-gift equivalent of flowers? Tell me your thoughts.

Thanks for reading! Until we meet next post! Or check me out on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat @newyorkcliche! Or pressure me to reply in the comment section #ThingsImWorkingOn