While red is the universal symbol of love, it’s the color green that will make anyone blush this Valentine’s Day, including you.

“Valentine’s Day used to be a holiday for receiving roses and chocolate, but the best gifts are often the ones we give ourselves,” says Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group. “Buy yourself flowers or a plant or plan a green experience, and treat yourself like the green goddess you are.”

Gardening and caring for plants can be a therapeutic escape as well as a fun and engaging activity to share with friends and loved ones. Give yourself – or a loved one – a gift to nourish the mind, body, and soil. And not only will these green gifts shine on February 14th, but they will boost your mood long after the holiday is over.

1) Love the Planet with Native Plants from Garden for Wildlife
If you love pollinators as much as we do, you’ll know they love native plants. But what we don’t love is the stress of trying to find the right plants for the right region. Garden for Wildlife, from the National Wildlife Federation, has curated collections of native plants that support the most species of bees, birds, and butterflies – and all selected by region. These beautiful blooms are proven to double wildlife to your garden in just one season and add variety, color, and texture. Instead of roses, plant with a purpose.

2) Sow Some Love
Watch your love grow each day by planting seeds. Our favorite Valentine varieties are ‘Falling in Love’ poppy seeds and ‘Sweet Heart’ Tomatoes, but there are hundreds of varieties to love. And because self-care – and seed starting – should be easy, try your hand at the Bio Dome starter kit. It is crafted for optimal seed growth with vents to promote essential airflow, a planter to wick moisture to seeds from the bottom, and nutrient-rich planter plugs to grow bigger, better seedlings. Just add love.

3) For Plant Lovers
Add a pop of color to your houseplant jungle with the red aglaonema from Nature’s Way. The red markings on the leaves make it an ideal houseplant to nestle among other green beauties in your home. The red aglaonema is an ingenious alternative to cut roses for Valentine’s Day, and this long-lasting houseplant needs a minimum of care to look its best.

4) Weeding Robot
Self-care means making time for things you love. And while some people love weeding, there are always other things to do in the garden. Created by the same inventor as the Roomba, the Tertill weeding robot organically controls weeds, eliminating the need for herbicides and weed block. How does it work? Its wheels churn up the top layer of soil, looking for baby weeds and chopping them down before they have a chance to grow. Love that! Solar-powered and weatherproof, this handy device is as effective as hand weeding – but so much easier.

5) Encore® Azalea Autumn Sweetheart®
With richly layered pinks as soft as a blush, Encore Azalea Autumn Sweetheart is the gift that keeps on blooming. Its stunning single to semi-double blooms span over 2” across, exploding into a colorful display in late spring and reblooming throughout the year. Vibrant emerald foliage provides a gorgeous evergreen color all year long. Autumn Sweetheart matures to 4’x4.5’ and thrives in USDA Zones 6b-10b.

6) Southern Living® Plant Collection Hello Darlin’™ Blueberry
For a sweet and healthy treat for yourself, Hello Darlin™ Blueberry from the Southern Living® Plant Collection dazzles with bright early blooms and bountiful berries. The stunning foliage transitions from vibrant green to dark red across the seasons; this beautiful low-chill blueberry hybrid offers year-round interest even when not full of berries. Hello Darlin™ is hardy in Zones 7a - 9b and matures to 4–5’ high x 3–4’ wide. Its size and dynamic visual interest make it perfect as an accent, hedge, or part of a kitchen garden.

7) Memorable Experiences
If you love to experience new things and visit new places, this holiday plan a trip to a location where you can be surrounded by beautiful flowers and create long-lasting memories. Check your local listing for public gardens and arrange a day trip for recharging in nature.

Check out the links above or your local retail center for these sweet ideas that will take self-care to the next level.

Happy Valentine’s Day from the garden gurus at Garden Media, who always show love to themselves and others!
    
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