Flowers in return for lunch

A couple of weeks ago we had some Dutch friends over for Sunday lunch (the traditional British roast).  In return, they brought with them this beautiful basket of bulbs (that subsequently bloomed, as you can see).  Apparently, as explained to us by our friend, the Dutch tend not to give cut flowers to their hostess as these tend not to last (a website explaining Dutch etiquette states that flowers given are expected to last at least a week - hence the common gift of flowers in a basket like this).  

(Actually, reading down the list of rules and cultural mistakes we foreigners can expect to make in this country, I think I must have unwittingly caused offence a million times!!)