You can find a rose bush for any Valentine

Q : I want to get my Valentine a rose bush to celebrate the day. Do you think it’s too early to plant a new bush and where in the yard would be the best spot to plant it? Do roses have special needs? — G.L., Albuquerque

A: I’m thrilled that you want to offer your Valentine a living, growing symbol of your commitment to each other.

Granted, having a bouquet of cut flowers gracing the indoors is very lovely. But, I’ve always felt melancholy when that arrangement fades. By having a living symbol, one as easy to grow as a rose, well that’s just perfect.

It’s a tad early to plant a rose. Being mid-February, we’re still subject to plenty of freezes. Remember, the average last frost here in the Metro is April 17. The valley area is usually cooler, so extend that date even further into the season.

As to special needs, there are a few to consider. Roses perform best in spots that will receive at least six, better eight hours of full sun a day. They do best growing in spots that offer good air circulation. Try to not tuck them up in a protected, snug corner of the yard. Roses prefer space and air.

You’ll want to place them in spots where you’ll be more likely to see them. Keep them visually important in the landscaping.

Roses are extremely sturdy creatures, but they require watering on a consistent basis. Not water pigs per se, but they will require a deep watering perhaps weekly during the growing season.

I want to caution you also that the lighter the bloom color, the easier it could be “burnt” by living in a hot area in the yard. Kind of counterintuitive, granted, but if offered a rose that has white through pale lavender-colored blooms, consider a spot that offers a bit of shading during the heat of the day.

Consider the temperament of your Valentine when choosing the perfect rose. Does your Valentine have a bright, sunny personality? A fiery personality? One of comfort and well-being? You can find a rose whose blooms will mimic that personality very easily.

I know that Jericho Nursery posts their rose list closer to rose planting time. You can cross-check the type and color of the roses on the Weeks Roses website, weeksroses.com, which offers color photos and descriptions. By doing a bit of research, I’m sure you can find the perfect rose to compliment your Valentine.

Remember what I say about them being hormonal, that planted and tended now, they’ll want to race to wake up. If that rushed new growth gets frosted, the bush could easily be harmed.

Offer your Valentine an assurance that you’ll be ready to plant the perfect rose just a smidgen later in the season.

Q: With Valentine’s Day here, I want to get my love something different to show her how much she means to me. Any ideas for something other than typical bouquets of roses? — H.D., Placitas A:

Make the time to amble through one of our local nursery greenhouses and I’ll bet you’ll stumble on the perfect plant to give to your Valentine. The number of blooming plants available now is marvelous.

My absolute favorite is cyclamen. The heart-shaped, dark-marbled green leaves are so pretty. But it’s the blooms offered by these guys that have me hooked. The flowers remind me of shooting stars. They start as tight curled buds that seem to pop out above the mass of leaves, then unfurl into the cheeriest flower, again reminding me of a shooting star.

The cyclamen is available sporting several different colors. You can find plants that have a deep red color or brilliant white. Others sport cheery pink blooms and others that are a pink, marbled color. The cyclamen is easy to care for, too. Placed in a brightly lit spot, yet kept a bit on the cool side, the cyclamen will live for months.

I always water from the bottom up, filling the saucer with water, allowing the plant to suck up the water in order to keep it healthiest. Watering from the top down could damage the tuber the plant grows from.

I truly believe that if you can get to a nursery and cruise through the greenhouses, you’ll find the perfect houseplant to give your Valentine. I agree with you, it doesn’t have to be roses.

Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Diggin’ In!