March 8, International Women's Day, is not a public holiday in Lithuania, but many people mark it: they greet their mothers, wives, daughters, teachers and female colleagues. Not everyone celebrates the day, but for those who do, flowers are the main gift. The short answer: tulips, mimosa and other spring flowers suit March 8 best, and it is worth buying in the morning or ordering ahead, because it is one of the busiest days of the year for florists.
Tulips: the classic choice
In early March the choice of tulips is at its widest. They are grown in greenhouses, so there is no shortage of colours and varieties. Tulips are given as single stems, in small bunches and in large bouquets.
Choosing a colour:
- Soft pink and white suit almost anyone: a mother, a colleague, a teacher.
- Red is more often given to a partner.
- Yellow is bright and spring-like, but some people in Lithuania link yellow flowers with parting. If you know she pays attention to such things, choose another colour.
- Purple and apricot work when you want something a little different.
How to look after tulips
Tulips have one habit worth knowing about: they keep growing after they are cut, and they bend towards the light. To keep a bouquet looking neat for longer:
- Before putting them in a vase, trim the stems at an angle with a sharp knife.
- Use cool water and do not overfill the vase: a few centimetres is enough for tulips.
- Keep them away from radiators, direct sun and fruit.
- Change the water every day or two and trim the stems again if needed.
If you want to put tulips in a vase together with daffodils, note that freshly cut daffodils release a sap that shortens the life of other flowers. Florists usually stand daffodils on their own for a while before mixing them.
Mimosa
The mimosa sold in early March is actually silver wattle, a type of acacia brought in from southern Europe. Its fluffy yellow flowers have a soft, sweet scent. In Italy mimosa is the main symbol of March 8, and many people in Lithuania associate it with the day too.
Worth knowing about mimosa:
- It loses moisture quickly, so keep it in water and in a cooler spot.
- The branches dry nicely, so after a few days you can keep them as a dried bouquet.
- Some people who are sensitive to pollen may find it uncomfortable. If she has allergies, choose tulips instead.
- Mimosa is not always available everywhere, so if you want it specifically, ask in advance.
Other spring flowers
In March florists also have other spring flowers that make a good mixed bouquet:
- Daffodils: bright yellow, inexpensive and very much a sign of spring.
- Hyacinths: strongly scented, so better for a larger room.
- Ranunculus: layered petals that look like small roses, in soft colours.
- Freesias: a light, pleasant scent and many colours.
- Anemones: striking flowers with a dark centre.
Potted plants are a good alternative to cut flowers: hyacinths, daffodils or small tulips in a pot, or primroses. They flower longer than a bouquet, and the bulbs can be planted in the garden after flowering.
Flowers for colleagues
Since March 8 is a working day in Lithuania, many people greet their colleagues at work. A few practical tips:
- Count in advance how many people you will be greeting, and set a budget per person.
- A single stem is a gift too. One tulip or rose with a ribbon for each colleague looks neat and does not cost much.
- Ask for each one to be wrapped separately. If you are handing them out at the same time, it helps when each is already wrapped.
- Odd numbers. In Lithuania living people receive an odd number of flowers: 1, 3, 5. Even numbers are associated with funerals.
- Think about water. If the flowers will stand in the office until the end of the day, check whether there are vases, or bring a few containers.
Why buy in the morning
March 8, like Valentine's Day, September 1 and Mother's Day, is one of the busiest days of the year for florists. The choice is widest in the morning. In the evening, when many people are on their way home from work, the most popular colours may be sold out and there can be queues.
If you can, stop by on your way to work. In 2027 March 8 falls on a Monday, so many people will be buying flowers that same morning.
Order ahead
The most reliable option is to order your bouquet a few days before. When you order, mention:
- how many bouquets or stems you need;
- the colours and flowers you would like, for example tulips, mimosa or a mixed spring bouquet;
- your budget;
- when you will collect.
That way you will not have to wait in a queue or choose from whatever is left.
March 8 flowers in Kaunas
The Gitanos gėlės flower stand is inside the Šilas supermarket at A. Baranausko g. 26, Kaunas, and on March 8, like every day, it opens at 8:00. Bouquets start from 15 € and potted plants from 8 €. You can pre-order a bouquet, or several for your colleagues, by SMS at +370 656 38880 or on gitanosgeles.lt and pick them up in the morning on your way to work.
