Flowers

I love to receive flowers. A couple of friends of mine (both girls) when they come around for supper invariably bring a gooey cake (or two) and some flowers. Receiving flowers from a girl is OK. But what if a bloke gave me them? The answer, it seems, lies in a story about Allen Tate, the American poet told by Peter Levi:-

I recall that once, in Oxford, where he was a guest of All Souls, Allen rang up his great friend David Cecil for social advice,
'David, it's my birthday.'
'Oh good, happy birthday,’ and David put the phone down. It rang again.
'David? It's Allen again. I've had some flowers for my birthday.'
'Oh, how charming.'
‘Yes, but they're kind of worrying. They're from a man. Is that all right in England? Or should I send them back?
'Ah, I see. Cut flowers or in a pot"?'
'In a pot'
'Oh - quite all right!’