Hearts and flowers (From Worcester News)

Hearts and flowers

8:32am Monday 6th February 2012 in Gardening

NOT flowers and chocolates again! Surely the way to a greenfingered person’s heart on Valentine’s Day is to make the most of the great outdoors, do some spectacular planting and wallow in luxury at the end of a hard day’s digging.

There’s an abundance of romantic gifts for the gardener, from a simple heart-shaped garden ornament to wonderful hampers of luxurious, sweetly scented organic products to wash away the toil of the day. Think beyond the box of chocolates to items which will bring pleasure for years to come.

Award-winning rose grower David Austin has a stunning container gift rose collection which can be ordered to arrive on a specific date.

Each rose arrives in a gift box, decorated with a rose print.

Among the gems in the collection is the St Swithun, a beautiful English climbing rose which produces large blooms in a romantic shade of pure pink blush, with a strong myrrh fragrance.

The containerised roses come in six-litre pots (£24.95 including standard delivery, davidaustin roses.com, call 01902 376300).

If your loved one is inspired by other people’s gardens, or simply enjoys a romantic day out in the open air, an annual membership to the National Trust is a must. It provides free unlimited visits to all of the 200 Trust gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Buy gift membership on 0844 8001895 or at nationaltrust.

org.uk. Membership starts at £37.88.

If she’s the apple of your eye, buy her a rosy-red Redlove bare root apple tree, excellent for both eating and cooking, which bears red fleshed fruit that has a beautiful pattern running through it and retains its colour when cooking. Exclusive to Suttons, the tree has unusual, long-lasting, deep pink spring blossom. (£24.99, suttons.co.uk, call 0844 9220606).

Add a touch of sparkle to your relationship – and your garden – with a twinkly red mosaic heart hanger, made with red-coloured glass shards and frost and weather resistant. Available in different sizes from gardens2you (from £8.99, gardens2you.co.uk, call 01933 624084).

If you want a more personalised gift, you can name a pack of rose seeds after your loved one that can grow into a rose bush to cherish forever. Simply name your rose and gettingpersonal.co.uk will register the name to the unique pack of rose seeds and personalise the certificate, which you will receive with both your chosen name and the unique seed reference number allocated. It comes presented in a stylish gift tin. (£19.99, gettingpersonal.co.uk) If you’re looking for a timely gift, check out Gardman’s Hamilton Roman numeral clock, with its romantic heart-shaped metal designs. (£24.99, Gardman, stockists 01406 372227).

For someone you think is hot stuff, opt for a gift of a chilli plant to grow in a windowsill container, with delicious Belgian chocolates with a kick of hot chilli. (£9.95, gift inspiration.com, call 01458 270911).

Alternatively, the same company offers more of a pampering gift for gardeners with its organic weekender gift box filled with organic toiletries including bath oil, soap and a votive candle scented with jasmine and geranium with manuka honey. (£27.95, gift inspiration.com, call 01458 270911).

Create a romantic mood either inside or outside with a set of coloured glass happy tealights from The Balcony Gardener, with a silver, blue, pink, purple and yellow glass tealight. (£30, the balconygardener.

com, call 0207 4315553).