Valentine's Day Garden Gifts

Gifts to Plant Now

• February 14 is still the middle of winter in many parts of the world, but in some areas snow has already melted and gardeners can begin planting certain flowers and plants. For instance, in southern California or Florida pansies bloom in winter and can be planted in February. Gardeners can also get a head start on planting flowers that will blossom in early spring such as sweet peas, sweet alyssum and calendula. If your Valentine is anxious to get outdoors, a gift box full of pansies and seeds will make a great treat.

Gifts to Plant Later

• Get creative by giving your sweetie a variety of seed packets or potted flowers with names that fit a Valentine's Day theme. Some varieties to consider are kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, love-in-a-puff, Cupid's dart and forget-me-nots. Daylilies, roses and irises also have thousands of named cultivars, many of which will work for a romantic or racy Valentine's Day theme. For instance, consider Femme Fatale and Wild One day lilies. You can also research the symbolism of flowers and give seeds for flowers that symbolize things like love, faith, trust, sincerity, beauty and so on. Another option is to look for plants with heart-shaped leaves or blossoms in pink or red. This is a gift that keeps on giving. Your Valentine can enjoy the flower names and leaf shapes now and look forward to planting the seeds and greenery in the spring.

Gifts to Wear

• Buy your beloved gardener gear in Valentine's Day colors or patterns. A red or pink sun hat or long-sleeved lightweight shirt will be a stylish reminder of Valentine's Day throughout the gardening season. You can also look for gardening clogs in Valentine colors or gardening gloves with a heart pattern.

Gifts to Decorate the Garden

• Think beyond plants and flowers and give a gift of garden decorations. Give your Valentine stepping stones and decorative rocks carved with words like "Love" and "Sweet" or other words that define your relationship. Wind chimes and whimsical sculptures of hearts or angels are also appropriate for Valentine's Day, or try making a "bouquet" of garden stakes shaped like colorful flowers that can then be used to stake actual flowers in the spring.