Where did the custom of men giving flowers to women come from? And if it has an origin in an old culture, why do women still derrive so much pleasure from something as simple as being given a few daisies?
How did it start? “Pretty flowers for a pretty lady.” I really doubt it’s more complicated than that.
One source:
From: http://www.sciquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/valentine2.asp
Some of us love certain flowers! 
Exactly! My husband asked me once why I (or women in general) like to get flowers, and I gave him the long version of this explanation. He really didn’t get it, though.
When I get flowers my emotional reaction is “he thinks I’m as pretty as these flowers”. Don’t expect it to make any sense - like I said, it’s an emotional reaction. And it works. And, as already pointed out, it’s cheaper than another piece of jewelry!
Conversely, recently I’ve noticed women giving flowers to men which struck me as bizzare since no men I know like flowers.
When did this tradition turn on its head and women start giving flowers to men? Is it a demonstration as a statement of equality? What was the precedent?
My cynical side always assumed it was because women liked to see men waste money on their behalf. The idea is it’s a nice gesture that has no practical value whatsoever so it speaks to your willingness to woo the female and make her happy in any manner possible. Jewelry is similar…several thousand dollars for a rock the size of a pea? Who are we kidding? They are nice to look at but in my world they aren’t that nice to look at! Still…to make the women in my life happy I will do these things and more for them even if I don’t understand it.