To my way of thinking, gardeners are a very special breed of people. There is no feeling like taking a walk through your garden and looking at plants and remembering where they came from and from whom. To this day when I look at my rose garden, I see the Nicole rose- a gift from my daughter, or York and Lancaster- a gift from my son, or all the hard work my husband and I put into the garden together. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes because of the swift passage of time and the profound love we share.

As a gardener I would much rather receive a plant that will grow with our love rather than a bouquet that is wilting in a couple of days, and I’m sure others feel the same way! Another good thing about giving a plant is that it is almost certain to cost much less than a bouquet of roses (which average about $70 a dozen these days).

For your significant other, a red rose says it all! This traditional Valentine’s Day gift means passionate love. However, if you truly love him/her you should also include a certificate saying you will dig the hole, amend the soil, water the rose, and generally take care of it, so that your significant other can enjoy all the benefits!
I recommend the Double Knockout rose for three reasons…

• It’s no fuss!
• It’s disease free!
• It blooms from May to September- lots of bouquets can come out of this shrub!

Another wonderful choice is “Let Freedom Ring” rose…

Let Freedom Ring

Don’t forget your mom or mother in law on Valentine’s Day! Where a red rose might not exactly be accurate in it’s meaning for a mother, a pink rose would be perfect! A pink rose means perfect happiness and friendship!

I recommend the rose “Sweet Promise” for three reasons…

• It’s brand new on the market (so it practically guarantees she doesn’t have it!)
• It has a strong traditional scent
• It lasts a long time in the vase! Perfect for cutting!

I also highly recommend the Nicole rose! It is simply my favorite! It has been part of my garden for six years now, and I can attest that it’s beauty cannot be beat!

Breaking Tradition on Valentine’s Day- Getting Creative!

If you don’t want to give your significant other the traditional rose and chocolates on Valentine’s Day, here are some other great choices!

• Red tulips or carnations also say “I love you!” the same as roses!
• Irises signify that you have an important question to ask!
• Daisies! These happy flowers mean “I share your sentiment.”
• Calla Lily’s signify beauty.

Did You Know…

Courtesy of Dr. Leonard Perry and his article entitled “Improve Your Love Life With Flowers”

According to, “Helen Farmer-Knowles, an aroma therapist and counselor on natural remedies, provides some interesting insights into the uses of flowers in aromatherapy in her book, The Healing Garden: Nature’s Remedies and Cures. Here are some of her thoughts…”

“Roses are the flowers perhaps most associated with love, and there are sensual reasons for this. The petals are soft and silken to the touch. The color red is often seen in clothing ads as a “suggestive” color. And there is even a scientific basis to the theory that fragrance aids in “falling in love.”

Also…”Many people believe that a good or happy mood leads to a healthy immune system. So smelling roses, or other favorite fragrant flowers, can help boost your health and well being, in addition to promoting a healthy love life.”

There you go! Get healthy with roses!

Happy Gardening, and Have a very Happy Valentine’s Day!
Marie Suzanne

If you have some great choices you’d like to suggest as Valentine’s Day gifts for that special someone- feel free to comment below!

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