Say it with living flowers

WITH Valentine’s Day approaching, love is in the air and so too are the clichés of cards, chocolates, flowers, romantic dinners and even, wedding proposals.

More often than not, the blur caused by the buzz of romance and the hustle and bustle of finding the perfect card or bouquet of flowers, love for Mother Earth can be overlooked.

If you are given roses this year by your Valentine, there is a good chance they will have been grown in Kenya, in one of the massive greenhouses that blot out the former wild shores of Lake Naivasha, or in neighbouring Ethiopia. For loved-up shoppers, habitual hankerings are for roses that are red, long-stemmed and sold by the dozen.

These roses come from labour-intensive, heavily sprayed crops that require vast amounts of water, pruning and treatment, before they are clipped and flown daily to buyers in Europe. A dozen roses neither symbolises ‘love’ for the labourers involved in growing and shipping them, nor for Mother Earth.

Instead, they personify the adverse health effects and environmental degradation that have become synonymous with the cut-flower industry.

If you are hooked on giving a botanical token of romantic affection this Valentine’s Day, there are alternatives to the outrageously expensive, imported; heavily sprayed and fragrance-less red roses that invariably end up in the bin or on the compost heap.

Granted, organic Fairtrade flowers might not be easy to find, and currently Irish garden and wild flowers are thin on the ground, but as a substitute for cut-flowers, give a floral offering that is more lasting.

Pots of spring-flowering bulbs come in all kinds of charming shapes, colours and varieties; scented and culinary potted herbs, such as lavender, rosemary, lemon balm and thyme, make wonderfully practical, yet beautiful gifts and an unusual house-plant will brighten up any room.

Rose bushes, fruit bushes, shrubs, native trees or fruit trees make perfect presents for those wishing to express commitment, and provide the perfect opportunity to go that extra mile to plant the gift together. All of these gifts will last far longer than a dozen red roses, and possibly portray more potent symbols of unfading love, as they are not destined for the compost heap any time in the immediate future.

A packet of flower seeds also makes a glorious gift for either him or her, and edible flowers, such as nasturtiums, borage and calendula, have the added benefit of being easy to grow and easy to use. From livening up salads or a gin and tonic, there is flavoursome fun to be had growing and transforming these beautiful blossoms into floral feasts.

If you are feeling hot, spicy and racy this Valentine’s Day, how about posting some Feeling Hot chilli pepper seeds to your loved one?

You can order these directly at http://greensideup.ie/or email [e-mail], and they will send them to your Valentine, complete with a message, or— if you prefer, anonymously — which is sure to get them guessing.