Herbs trained as standards would also be an ideal choice. Many species can be trained as standards. Among these are the scented geraniums. In addition, the upright forms of rosemary are often used.
Herbs can also be trained as topiaries or espalier into various shapes, such as triangles, diamonds, candelabras, and fans. Usually, a metal or wooden espalier form is inserted in the herb pot. Then, the plant is trained to grow on this support. Suitable herbs for this would include germander, lavender cotton, myrtle, and rosemary.
In addition to these trained herb plants, herbal wreaths make wonderful Valentine's gifts. This is easy to do if you buy a wreath form that is already wrapped with sphagnum moss. Decorate it with dried or fresh cut herbs. For touches of color, add dried rosebuds or other dried flowers, such as yarrow.
Why not create a living heart wreath? This gift will last for years to come. Start with one of the living heart wreath forms. These should be available in leading craft stores. For convenience, I would buy the moss filled one because it saves one step. For plants, you can choose from herbs, succulents, and different flowers. After the cuttings or seedlings are inserted into the potting soil, the wreath needs to remain flat on a tabletop for at least a week until the plants can become established in the frame. Once they reach that stage, the wreath is ready to hang up.
You could also buy some flowers and herbs, and create a nosegay or tussie-mussie for that special person. For this project, some background on the language of flowers is helpful. The Victorians created messages by carefully choosing blossoms to express sentiment. For example, violets were an expression of faithfulness. Various colors of roses have different meanings. Red ones mean everlasting love, while pink stands for perfect happiness, and yellow represents joy.
Rosemary would be especially appealing for Valentine's Day because it is forever associated with remembrance. This is mentioned in one of Shakespeare's plays. In the language of flowers, each flower or herb has its own special significance. For example, myrtle symbolizes love, while mint stands for virtue. Golden marjoram is for blushes.
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