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The Garden Life: Valentine’s gift options from the garden go far beyond roses

The Columbian
Published: February 11, 2010, 12:00am
2 Photos
Robb Rosser
Robb Rosser Photo Gallery

How do I love thee? Would it strum your heartstrings if I said I love you to the depth and breadth that a dandelion’s roots can reach? How about, “I love you enough to hand dig a small, ornamental pond.” To some, this may not sound like a romantic proposal, but these are offers no gardener can refuse. Since the focus of Valentine’s Day is on the color red, greet your sweetheart with a bouquet of red tulips on Valentine’s Day. Now, wait for the swoon.

Not every Valentine’s Day cliché carries the panache it once did. “Have a one pound box of cream-filled chocolates, my dear” would be treated by some as a treasonous statement. Most of my friends would thank me with a cringe, knowing they now had to wage a war of choices.

Times have changed. That includes how we celebrate a romantic holiday like Valentine’s Day. I would venture a guess that most gardeners would prefer a new, disease-resistant shrub rose to any sugar-laden food item. To be on the safe side, I think a gift of two or three hand-decorated truffles from a fine chocolatier, included with a gift certificate to Pollock & Sons Nursery in Battle Ground or Tsugawa’s Nursery in Woodland, would elicit the best response on Valentine’s Day.

There are many pure red roses you could choose to symbolize your heartfelt love. Of the David Austin English roses, L.D.Braithwaite is a fully double, fragrant, old rose that many consider the finest red English rose. William Shakespeare is a magnificent, deep crimson rose that ages to a red so rich, it verges on the color purple. Like other English roses, this one has a heady, old rose fragrance.

For the gardener who appreciates the perfect form of a red hybrid tea rose, there are Red Masterpiece, Olympiad and Kentucky Derby. Mr. Lincoln is a well-known hybrid tea with long, pointed buds that open into perfectly formed roses on long stems. This rose is a red so deep that the texture of the petals could pass for velvet. The strong damask fragrance will take your sense of smell to new heights.

A twist on tradition

The romantic notion of the red heart can be played out in many plants that are not even in bloom at this time of year. Give the gift of any winter plant with hints of red in leaf, bark and berry for a twist on an old tradition. Numerous shrubs carry a payload of bright red berries through the winter months and into spring. In addition to the ornamental value of berries on holly, cotoneaster and viburnum, you can add the enticing draw that the berries have on overwintering birds.

Among the hollies, Ilex verticillata Winter Red is a unique, deciduous variety with abundant red fruits that appear especially vibrant on bare winter branches. Choose a low-growing cotoneaster such as C. Dammeri or C. salicifolia Scarlet Leader for a vigorous plant that will cover large areas, including steep slopes, in sun or light shade. Beginning in fall, the berries fairly glow above a dense mat of dark green leaves.

By the time Valentine’s Day rolls around, nurseries and garden centers will offer early spring tulips, primroses and daffodils. Make it a point to visit a local garden store. Garden Fever, which is in Portland but owned by Vancouver residents Richard and Lori Volmer, is among the better ones. I always find the most unique garden ornaments there.

As old fashioned as it may be, Valentine’s Day still holds a powerful sway in our romantic lives. Few things will delight your sweetie more than knowing that you splurged with him or her in mind. Just like the best gardens, love is generous, flower-filled and red-hot.

Garden show

For a special Valentine’s Day treat, come and hear my talk at the Yard, Garden and Patio Show on Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Oregon Convention Center. Dulcy Mahar of The Oregonian, Portland Tribune columnist Barbara Blossom and I will share a lighthearted hour talking about our Expert Garden Bloopers. Hope to see you there.

Robb Rosser is a WSU-certified Master Gardener. Reach him at Write2Robb@aol.com.

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