Start the budding princess off right with a bouquet filled with pink and lavender blooms—miniature roses, carnations or pale tulips in a variety of arrangements. Or choose a colorful collection of yellows, blues and bold hues for the new boy on the block.

A bouquet that is delivered in a collectible planter or vase designed especially for the new arrival will do double duty after the bouquet is gone—offering a place to store tiny nursery supplies or just add charm. A flower arrangement with a cuddly stuffed animal will bring one of baby's first cherished, cozy friends. Whether your message comes on the side of a toy wagon filled with flowers or exclaimed across a Mylar balloon attached to a bouquet, you can shout (along with the proud parents) the happy news that “It’s a Boy” or “It’s a Girl.”

And, speaking of proud parents… don’t forget to shower them with a little affection, too. A bouquet of a dozen roses in mom’s favorite color or a basket teeming with cheerful blooms will be yet one more welcome addition to brighten their home.

A romantic gesture can come in many different shapes and sizes—from a glass vase overflowing with two dozen roses, to a mixed bouquet filled with an assortment of silky, colorful blooms, to the graceful beauty of an exotic orchid. With a range of colors to celebrate your feelings—red making a bold statement, white conveying pure love, pink expressing joy, and yellow commemorating friendship and caring—flowers offer you a multitude of ways to say what’s in your heart.

There’s no tricky etiquette for sending flowers to someone who’s ill—and, as the ultimate feel-good gift, it’s virtually impossible to go wrong—but it’s useful to take into account a few considerations when selecting the best arrangement.

Anyone recovering from minor surgery or making their way through a lingering—but not serious—illness, is likely to be thrilled to receive a mixed bouquet bursting with brightly colored flowers or an arrangement accompanied by a “Get Well” balloon or a cheerful keepsake vase. But if the person’s illness is more serious or long lasting, you might consider a sophisticated, understated arrangement—from a miniature garden basket to a tone-on-tone bouquet, or the simple beauty of a delicate orchid.

If the person is likely to receive a steady stream of visitors, an arrangement accompanied by a plant and fruit or gourmet basket will not only cheer them up but make it easy for them to be a gracious host without even getting out of bed.

Don’t wait for a generous gesture on a grand scale to send thank-you flowers—so often it’s the simple good deeds and seemingly small gestures throughout the day that make such a big difference to us.

Surprise someone with a seasonal bouquet to complement any decor. Or send a low or compact arrangement that’s designed to work especially well on a desk or small table. A fruit or gourmet basket is always a welcome, indulgent treat, and a green or flowering plant will serve as a lasting reminder of your appreciation.