Valentine’s Day is one of the most significant holidays of the year. It is also one of the most expensive. In 2008, over $14 billion was spent on gifts.

The origins of Valentine’s Day aren’t clear. According to one account, it was named for a priest named Valentine. Emperor Claudius II had Valentine arrested for performing secret marriages despite an edict forbidding eligible bachelors from marrying. The purpose of the law was to encourage men to join the Roman army instead. After Valentine was arrested, he died in prison on February 14, 270 A.D.

Other traditions say Valentine’s Day was based on a Roman holiday called Lupercalia. On this holiday, couples were joined randomly until the holiday the following year.

Valentine’s Day has now become a time to express not only romantic love and affection but also friendship as well.

Though roses are the most popular Valentine’s flower, they are by no means the only ones that are suitable. Rose stems sold during this period usually won’t last as long simply because greenhouses have been harvesting for weeks in advance to build up a good stockpile for the holiday. As a result, the vase life can be shorter than usual.

Red is the traditional color associated with this holiday. However, pink
and white are also suitable shades as well. The color can come from the flowers as well as ribbons, bows, and containers. Floral print ribbons with hearts would also work well.

For this holiday, most any type of arrangement is suitable. This can range from swags and traditional bouquets to standard floral designs.

Other non-traditional shapes could be used, For example, you could make a garland using small grape vine wreaths. You could also include other items in the design like candles.

Grape vine wreaths are perfect for everlasting Valentine’s displays. You
could also include flowers as part of a gift basket.

For glass containers and shallow bowls, use beads, beach glass, or similar materials.

A lot of different kinds of vases and containers can be used for Valentine’s Day. They can be plain or decorated with hearts. The color of the container definitely needs to complement your design unless you’re using clear glass.

Another gift to consider is the Blooming Bag Valentine’s Day garden kit. This would be very suitable for flower lovers. It would be a delightful addition to a gift basket.

As an alternative to roses, consider the following flowers. The anthurium is a great choice because it has a heart-like shape. These are often red, but are sometimes pink.

For those who are madly in love, gardenia would be a good choice. This signifies ecstasy. Camellia stands for perfect loveliness. The azalea means romance. The shrimp plant expresses perfection. Honeysuckle means the bond of love. Plumerias and myrtle indicate one is faithful until death. Carnations stand for pure deep love. Red mums say that you’re in love. White dittany means passion.

Others that express romantic love or affection include cuckoo flower, fuchsia, hollyhock,