Father’s Day became a holiday much later than Mother’s Day. President Nixon proclaimed this to be a holiday in 1972. It is always the third Sunday in June.

Father’s Day now rivals Mother’s Day in terms of popularity. Generally, people expect to spend around a $100 for Father’s Day gifts. Some of this will be spent on floral arrangements as well as living plants for indoors and outdoors, such as dish gardens and potted plants.

Though there certainly may be exceptions, most dads love to receive flowers and floral arrangements. In general, they like warm to hot colors, such as yellow, oranges, and reds. Red is a stimulating, intense color. While yellow is radiant, it is also inviting. Orange is a vibrant color with a fiery side. These colors can be carried through to the finishing touches. For example, you can take tools that you plan giving as gifts, and paint the handles to match that of the floral design.

So far as the individual blooms are concerned, men’s tastes run towards tropicals, bold flowers, and dramatic foliage.

With Father’s Day arrangements, it is extremely important to pay attention to detail. This is done by choosing appropriate containers and touches that would appeal to men.

For containers, you might start with things like old milk cans, cigar boxes, clay flower pots, watering can, wooden boxes of all sorts, or baskets. An old tool box or miter box also works well. If he is discarding an old pair of shoes or old hat, these could even be used as a container. Buy a coffee mug that says Dad, and use that as the basis for the design. Then, he can use the mug after the arrangement is discarded.

Though we normally wouldn’t think of doing it for Father’s Day (or Mother’s Day for that matter), make a special garland for the mantle with suitable accessories, such as seashells or golf balls or tees.

It would also be possible to make a nosegay that relays a very special message. In this Victorian-type arrangement, each flower expresses a word or sentiment. Because many people aren’t aware of the meaning of the individual flowers, you probably need to include an explanation if you do this type of floral design.

Any arrangement can be personalized with some sort of motif that would be of interest to your dad. For example, if he is into rock climbing, sailing, fishing, or golfing, then it is very easy to finish the arrangement off with appropriate motifs or materials. For a nautical theme, you could wrap the basket or container in netting or add sea shells.

For their visual appeal, flower picks and plant picks can’t be beat. These come in various themes, such as animals, birds, etc., so you can choose ones that are the most suitable for your dad’s floral design. Miniature ceramic figures, such as the rowboats one sees sometimes in bonsai, would also work very well.

Baskets or other containers can also be wrapped in appropriate materials, such as a bandana. Instead of fancy ribbons, go with raffia, which adds a casual touch to the design.

When you choose a glass (clear or colored) container for your Father’s Day design, there are other ways to express the motif you have chosen. Add suitable materials to the water in the vase, such as golf balls, sea shells, berries, and fruit. For fishermen, use fish-shaped glass beads or colored sand.

Wreaths are also very appropriate for Father’s Day, especially if they are heart shaped. It is easy to take a pre-made wreath form, and add suitable items, such as golf balls and golf tees.

Now, let’s look at some individual flowers that are suitable. When it comes to roses, men definitely prefer red ones. Other red, orange, and yellow blooms would include asters, carnations, lisianthus, sunflowers, lilies, daisies, and alstroemerias as well as red hypericum berries. For exotic blossoms and foliage, choose from calla lilies, kangaroo paws, papyrus, palm leaves, prayer plant, monstera, and dieffenbachia. Dyed cotton bolls in hot colors would also work well.