Show the gardener in your life how much you love them with a green-fingered present to set the heart beating faster. All romantics don't just love a bunch of red roses on February 14th – but for something longer lasting and just that little bit different, you'll find plenty of more unusual ideas in our Farm Shop including local Ripley hand made heart-shaped chocolates.
Heart-shaped climbing plants: twine fragrant jasmine or stephanotis around a wire support in the shape of a heart and you'll have perfume, beauty and romance in a single houseplant.
Red Tulips: Step aside Roses, Tulips are in season during February and are a popular alternative to those very over priced Roses, for what it's worth, I like them better than roses not just because of price.
Romantic plants: it's not all about roses on Valentine's Day, though. Valentine-themed plants include love-in-a-mist (Nigella) seeds, Clematis 'Mon Amour', Dianthus 'Romance' and bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis).
Lovebirds: bird feeders and cosy nest boxes tempt feathered friends into the garden for you to watch on long, cosy summer evenings à deux.
We all know the romantic message you send with a dozen red roses – but there are plenty of other flowers which should get your loved one's heart beating faster. Here are our top ten:
Fluffy yellow acacia blossom means secret love
An exotic bird of paradise flower shows you'll be faithful forever
A calla lily tells her she's beautiful
White camellias say she's perfectly lovely
Pink camellias express longing
Carnations in solid colours send the answer 'yes'
A daffodil signals unrequited love
Daisies symbolise loyalty
An orchid indicates beauty
And tulips are a symbol of passion
And here are some perhaps best sent another day:
Striped carnations send a firm 'no'
A rhododendron is a warning that you may be dangerous
Evening primrose is a sign of unfaithfulness
Marigolds symbolise despair and jealousy
and Geraniums tell of stupidity and folly
