Review: Tulips and roses
Posted by Huw,
In addition to the two 18+ botanical sets, 10280 Flower Bouquet and 10281 Bonsai Tree that we reviewed recently, two smaller ones with a younger age rating have also been released, 40460 Roses and 40461 Tulips, just in time for Valentine's Day.
40460 Roses
This set builds two red roses which are very similar to those in 10280 Flower Bouquet. The medium nougat flowers in that used two different types of 4-wide car bonnets whereas this one uses the same one for the eight outer petals. The pterodactyl wing leaves have been replaced with a green NEXO Knight canopies which I think are more suitable.
The stems are constructed using the same straight and angled Technic connectors as in the larger set, which can be shortened, straightened, or lengthened as needed by adding and/or replacing parts.to suit the vase you're using.
One of the stems comes with two angled connectors but I've removed one of them for the photo below. Bent stems tends to suggest stale flowers.
The layering of parts at 45 degrees makes for a very effective and dense flower head.
I think they look very attractive when placed in a suitable vase.
In my opinion the red roses are a better colour and a better design than those in the larger set so you might want to swap them out if you have the 18+ bouquet.
40461 Tulips
The three herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes share the same design DNA as all the other flowers in the botanical collection but are the only ones with lime-green stems, formed using 3-long Technic connectors which in that colour are unique to this set.
The three heads -- white, cool yellow and medium lavender -- are constructed using two of the very useful Brick 1X2X1 2/3, W/ 8 Knobs, design ID 67329, which is ideal for building SNOT squares like this.
The leaves are re-purposed claws introduced in HERO Factory sets in 2014, design 15362. It's the first time they've been cast in green. The way they are connected looks slightly awkward but most likely they'll be inside the vase and out of sight anyway.
Each head has a light orange interior and a brown 3-stem flower stalk inside to represent the stamen.
Verdict
These sets present an affordable entry to the new botanical collection and look beautiful and realistic when placed in an attractive vase, although I don't think the two varieties display that well together. It's not normal to do so anyway, at least not in our house!
The roses could be just the thing to buy for your other half on Valentine's Day, especially as it could save a non-essential trip out nearer the time.
They are available at LEGO.com although temporarily out of stock in North America.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the sets for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#Ad: If you purchase anything via the links in this article, Brickset will receive a small commission.
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34 comments on this article
Fun fact. The red roses are the emblem of my city, Nova Gorica, so I have to get them.
My daughter and me had some fun building the roses. I think they look great!
Have not bought the tulips (even though I live in Tulip Country). I don't like their looks, especially how the leaves are attached.
These roses are great, but I'm not convinced by tulips.
I'm not the biggest fan of tulips, but I know someone who is. Tulip festivals are quite something to behold. I'm planning to get the tulips for myself anyway, because I love those colors (sadly they weren't available in the store I got my birthday haul from(. I'll probably go with a brick-built vase, and 11013 looks to be the perfect set for this purpose.
The Steven Universe nerd in me hopes that this botanical collection opens the doors to a geological collection sometime in the future
Red roses but not white? The Yorkshireman in me is heartily offended. Obviously this is down to TLG being run by a secret cabal of Lancastrians!
Personally I like both of these better. Growing up my parents owned a florist shop. As a result I am far more familiar with flowers then many. Nearly all long stem roses are red. White and yellow are next most common colors. It would be uncommon to have leaves and thorns on roses that have been arranged in the US. Those are normally cut off by the arranger/designer. The leaves are closer to real life in own opinion, although still not totally there. But there are good details. Personally I would have liked tighter rose heads rather than more open.
I like the tulips as well. From the right angle they are pretty good. The scale might be off. They look a little narrow. I'd likely need to get a set to know for sure. Great review Huw, really enjoyed it.
@RikTheVeggie said:
"Red roses but not white? The Yorkshireman in me is heartily offended. Obviously this is down to TLG being run by a secret cabal of Lancastrians!
"
As someone from the red side of the Pennines, I can't help but feel a slight sense of superiority.
Yorkshire is nice, though.
Love them, ordered both, but have to wait until Feb 25th to get them. I ordered these just before they went "temp out of stock". Now just have to wait for Flower Bouquet to become available again, to order that set too.
The roses are very good- you're right about the canopies working better than pterodactyl wings. I think bright red may have stood out too much amongst the muted colours of the flower bouquet.
I wish I'd got them in the brief instant when they were available... "Out of Stock" here now, which I think means "for ever".
I'll go and order some herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes though. How could I not?
In time for Valentine's Day... 2022.
Almost immediately they had a scheduled date of 2/25 and now they are out of stock completely.
Perfect gift for any one looking for roses that are impossible to kill. (unless you drop them)
Shouldn't roses always go in odd counts? I mean 1 or 3, 5, ... rose(s) is okay, but you should never ever give 2 or 4 (...) roses in a bouquet.
... Or is that my own country's specific thing?
I've not heard of that, but it's common to give a dozen red roses, right?
My other half said "no."
I like the red roses much better than the "medium nougat"-colored ones in the Flower Bouquet set. I've never even seen roses that color before.
I originally wanted 6 sets but actually ordered 3 sets when I looked at the $$$ total
@ferda said:
"Shouldn't roses always go in odd counts? I mean 1 or 3, 5, ... rose(s) is okay, but you should never ever give 2 or 4 (...) roses in a bouquet.
... Or is that my own country's specific thing?"
In Serbia, you always gift an odd number of flowers. Even numbers are reserved for funerals.
@Huw said:
"I've not heard of that, but it's common to give a dozen red roses, right?"
Yes, a dozen roses are the most common from to give roses in. It is the most common bouquet for St Valentines Day. Red roses are the only flower most men know. Half dozen and two dozen are also common. Single, triple and 16 are also frequently. Artistically speaking odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye. But that only works below about 5 or 7. Your mind doesn't count quick enough after 5 or 7 unless things are grouped such at you can quickly count.
There's a whole big thing on what flowers, their color and their numbers mean what. There is traditional (ie Victorian) and then modern. Some overlap and some don't.
I'm liking that in the botanical sets Lego is actively encouraging adjusting & reconfiguring.
@Videofronta said:
"Fun fact. The red roses are the emblem of my city, Nova Gorica, so I have to get them. "
I like all things Lego so I have to get them.
I like these a lot. Ordered when they were released on the 1st, along with the bouquet and bonsai. Arrived yesterday... just need to find some vases now. (Or maybe that should be varses!!)
@LusiferSam said:
"Personally I like both of these better. Growing up my parents owned a florist shop. As a result I am far more familiar with flowers then many. Nearly all long stem roses are red. White and yellow are next most common colors. It would be uncommon to have leaves and thorns on roses that have been arranged in the US. Those are normally cut off by the arranger/designer. The leaves are closer to real life in own opinion, although still not totally there. But there are good details. Personally I would have liked tighter rose heads rather than more open.
I like the tulips as well. From the right angle they are pretty good. The scale might be off. They look a little narrow. I'd likely need to get a set to know for sure. Great review Huw, really enjoyed it."
Interesting facts! Sounds sacrilegious to cut off the thorns of roses. I'm going to get all the flowers, having dug up tonnes of flower bulbs as a teenager.
"Each head has a light orange interior and a brown 3-stem flower stalk inside to represent the stamen."
I'm going to wager a bet that this the first time an element has been used to represent a male reproductive organ. LOL
And if you consider the hollow part of the 3-stem flower stalk to be be the stigma, it may also be the first time an element has been used to represent a female reproductive organ.
Birds-and-the-bees joking aside, these sets look fantastic! Though to give your paramour the requisite dozen red roses it'll cost $78 bucks. And while these will last much longer, they won't smell as sweet despite not being called by any other name.
Thanks for the review, Huw. I'm liking the red roses and I think I'll order two sets as I'd like three roses for the little vase I have in mind. I think the red roses look much better than the other ones, although I do appreciate that the Lego designers tried something different. Most people can afford $17.00 for those lovely red roses so it's helpful they are selling them in a small set.
Yes!
A dozen red roses for Feb 14th????
Hold on, I’m still waiting for my order from the 2nd of January, post brexit and all that.
Well there’s no guarantee they’ll arrive in time, if I order, but at least they won’t have died
If you're worried about the roses being sold out for Valentine's Day, just order them in readiness for next year. It'll show how extra thoughtful you are for your loved one, if you plan THAT far ahead!
Me: "I want some red...roses for a blue....lady... " My local Lego store: "NOPE WE DONT HAVE THEM MUST BE AN AMERICAN THING WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH LEGO.COM!"
I ordered the Roses on January 12. The initial response to my order said they were backordered and would be shipped by February 25. I just now received an e-mail from TLG that they will ship by March 31. March 31? Really??? Tulips, which were ordered at the same time as the roses, arrived today, and I was surprised at the small size of the box. In retrospect, I now understand, but would be thrilled if this was a signal that LEGO was only making boxes as large as they needed to be as opposed to what they have been doing for the last several decades by using larger packages to create a feeling among uninformed consumers of greater value through box size.
@Schmopiesdad said:
"I ordered the Roses on January 12. The initial response to my order said they were backordered and would be shipped by February 25. I just now received an e-mail from TLG that they will ship by March 31. March 31? Really??? Tulips, which were ordered at the same time as the roses, arrived today, and I was surprised at the small size of the box."
Wow...I just got a similar email, except mine says by the 12th of March. Good thing I wasn't planning on these for Valentine's Day. TLG planning fails again...
Like you, I ordered both at the same time...both were also shown as 'Available' even after I finished my order. TLG really needs to work on their POS/Inventory system. (and by POS, I am referring to the common business term "point of sale" (however, the other meaning could be also applicable))
TLG, if you're listening: CONTACT AMAZON. They got this system down. When you order an item that's listed as "In Stock"...it ships. When inventory is getting low, the website tells you how many are left. Delay building another theme park and bring your POS system into this century. It's not rocket science.
@Huw said:
"Both stems come with two angled connectors but I've removed them from one of them here. "
I thought the set contains one straight stem and one bent stem (two angled connectors in total). But I agree, the straight one looks better although I like the thorns that that one lacks.
40460 is very pretty.
@Reinier said:
" @Huw said:
"Both stems come with two angled connectors but I've removed them from one of them here. "
I thought the set contains one straight stem and one bent stem (two angled connectors in total). But I agree, the straight one looks better although I like the thorns that that one lacks.
"
Ah yes, you are right. I'd altered them for display and forgot what I'd done :)
@LusiferSam said:
" @Huw said:
"I've not heard of that, but it's common to give a dozen red roses, right?"
Yes, a dozen roses are the most common from to give roses in. It is the most common bouquet for St Valentines Day. Red roses are the only flower most men know. Half dozen and two dozen are also common. Single, triple and 16 are also frequently. Artistically speaking odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye. But that only works below about 5 or 7. Your mind doesn't count quick enough after 5 or 7 unless things are grouped such at you can quickly count.
There's a whole big thing on what flowers, their color and their numbers mean what. There is traditional (ie Victorian) and then modern. Some overlap and some don't. "
and beyond that there’s even many non-western traditions too!
ikibana for example
or just general symbolic divergence such as white representing death not purity
and surely, new forms of expression will evolve on the future