From Sarah’s garden to yours

February is the month of all things love with Valentine’s day at the centre of it all. Aside from declaring undying love for those you care about; poetic words are often accompanied by gifts. And not just any gifts but typically roses, chocolate and jewellery feature highly on the lists of Valentine’s day offerings.

For many people, these kinds of expressions of love are gratefully received, however for gardeners they are all well and good, but what would be more appreciated would be flowers still connected to their roots as a true expression of undying love, a trailer load of well-rotted manure to show an unconditional love, no matter how bad things get, or a small sapling as a symbol of a love that will grow with time. Even a replacement for a favourite broken tool or a garden item that has been on a wish list for far too long, shows a deep love in tune with the needs of your partner. A well thought out gift for the keen gardener will say so much more than the usual trinket picked up at the local shopping mall.

If you want to put some thought into sending the right kind of Valentine’s day message, look beyond the ordinary red rose and say what you really mean with flowers. Plants and flowers have long been used to symbolise thoughts and feelings, with a height in popularity in the Victorian era where sweet nothings and curses were delivered florally. Choose the blooms in your bouquet carefully to avoid saying something you don’t actually mean.

You are pretty safe with red roses as they say, “I love you.” Which is why they are ubiquitous in all the florists at this time of year with a price tag to match. However, if you like someone but aren’t ready for the “L” word then you might want to go with a pink rose which is a symbol of ‘happiness’ or a blue salvia to say, ‘I think of you.’ If you want to be a ‘secret admirer‘ – the flower or plant for you is the Gardenia. A sprig of Basil can send ‘good wishes,’ but Begonia urge the recipient to ‘beware.’ I would steer clear of yellow roses unless you want to hint at jealousy and infidelity and avoid orange lilies – unless you want ‘hatred’ to be your message. The hidden meanings behind the blooms in the bouquet can make sending flowers so much more meaningful.

Chocolate is another of those standard lover’s gifts and most people love to indulge in the sweet gooeyness wrapped in foil, in spite of weak protestations of it not being good for the diet. The Valentines’ themed candy is easier to find than red roses and often much more affordable, so while it says, ‘I love you’ it can also say ‘I didn’t try very hard to get you a gift’ or ‘I’m sorry for sabotaging your diet.’

If you want to give a chocolatey gift to your favourite gardener and have it be well received then do a little research and find some plants to take its place. A quick online search will reveal lists of plants that are reminiscent of the real thing, in looks, fragrance, taste or in name only.

A pack of Chocolate Cosmos seeds Cosmos atrosanguineus will have your love remembering you for seasons to come. Pelargoniums (also known as geraniums) come with many different fragrances to their foliage so there is no surprise to find there is a Chocolate-Scented Pelargonium to give to your sweetheart. Or head to the garden centre and look for plants with chocolate-coloured leaves and flowers. In the herb section chocolate mint Mentha x piperita f. citrate 'Chocolate' is a wonderful option for that after dinner refreshing surprise. Watch out for Chocolate Vine Akebia quinate though as it is on the pest list, so you might as well give orange lilies.

If you are after a bit of bling you could stick with the plant theme and put plants with the word gold in their name into your preferred search engine. Or swap out gold for your gardener’s favourite gemstone. It also helps to add your location into the search to ensure plants are not only available to you but will grow well in your area. Take the time to look beyond the name and image and make sure it isn’t a pest. A plant that will struggle to thrive, could die or take over the garden isn’t a great gift.

If you are looking at more of an investment to show your love, shiny new tools can make great gifts. Also, big ticket garden items such as statues, sculptures and fountains are grand gestures that can beautify a garden space and remind your beloved of how much you care each time they look out at the garden.

If you are looking for the ultimate gift for a gardener then the best thing you can give is yourself and your time. There is always something to be done in a garden and a promise of weeding, digging or free labour for a complex project not only gets a job done but can be some meaningful time spent together, creating memories that will be cherished for years to come.

So, this Valentine’s Day, when it comes to your special gardener, skip the mall and get them something they will truly appreciate.