The type of flowers you select does not matter, it's the quality of the flower that does! This weekend, as you look at the flowers for your special Valentine (for her and yes for him, as men love flowers too), let me tell you about them. We all have our favorites, we all have a budget to think of, and we want them to last as long as possible. Begin by selecting a florist, garden center, or nursery you are acquainted with for quality. You may pay a bit more--but in the long run it will be worth the extra expense. Avoid flowers that will be finished blooming in just a couple of days or drooping over the day after Valentine's Day.

The number one Valentine's Day flower is, of course, the rose--and the growers of roses know this. There are only so many available for that day, so you will pay more for roses and of course more for red roses than other colored roses. Supply and demand determines the price of everything you purchase--and this is a one day holiday, not a month like Christmas. So do not always blame the higher cost of flowers on your florist. A bouquet of mixed color roses will be less expensive and will send the same message. Often the pink, white, lavender, yellow, or bi-colored roses have better fragrance than the red roses do. The longer the stems, the more expensive the roses will be--so what is the matter with shorter stems? Nothing.

When you select your roses for Valentine's Day, here is what to look for. Look at the shape of the flower buds, as they are not all alike. Some roses open by unraveling one petal at a time in a spiral fashion; this is a classic rose. I want you to gently squeeze that flower bud. It should feel firm, not soft, as soft rose buds have been kept under refrigeration for some time. If it feels hard and looks like a Hershey Kiss, it is called a "bullet," and was picked too early by the grower (not the florist) and it will not open. Look for firm roses that are unraveling on the tip of the rosebud! Foliage color and appearance is next; the better it looks, the longer the flowers will last.

Roses keep best in a cool place, so keep them away from heat sources and "out of the sun." Every morning, add a bit of ice to the vase that is kept filled with water to cool the plant down and extend the flowering time. Never allow the leaves on the rose to be under water; remove them from the stem, as they will rot and this will shorten the flowering time also. If you're transporting flowers home from the florist, be sure to keep them warm, as freezing temperatures will damage the flower buds--have them wrapped properly!

Lilies are also very beautiful, more delicate looking, and will last just as long. What you are looking for in a bouquet of lilies is more flower buds than open flowers when you receive them. The Oriental types are the most fragrant, and I like them more than roses for the fragrance.

Carnations are wonderful and will last the longest, if they are fresh. Here is what to look for when choosing carnations. Just under the flower you will see a green capsule-like growth; this is the actual flower bud, and that is where the flower petals came from. Gently squeeze it and if it feels firm, it means that there are still flower petals inside yet to come. If it feels empty or hollow, all the petals are out and it will not last as long in your home.

Gerber daisies are also a wonderful cut flower and will last a couple of weeks. Nice long stems with 3-inch wide blooms that are often multi-petal and unique looking. This is also your chance to use nice foliage as filler because this flower has no foliage. Add secondary flowers like baby's breath for contrast. Gerber daisy comes in all colors like the rainbow.

Alstroemeria is another unusual cut flower that comes in all colors and will last in your home for a long time. The flower is a cluster of small 1 inch lily-shaped blooms on a strong stem that open just a few at a time with many buds visible. This flower is a great cut flower for a warm home or the office.

Tulips are always wonderful at this time of the year, especially when the winter has been as snowy and cold as it has been. Tulips also send a message that spring is just around the corner, and if your special sweetheart has "cabin fever," this flower will help them to feel better.

The Hawaiian 'King' protea is my favorite flower and hard to come by, but it will last for 2 to 3 weeks in a vase of water. When the flower begins to fade, empty the vase and use it in a dry arrangement for the next year. The 'King' protea is a 5 to 6 inch pink bell-shaped tropical flower with an intricate looking center. It grows in only 5 places in the world, because it needs special growing conditions. Hawaii has these special conditions and many florists can get them for you if you call them now.

No matter what you choose, your special Valentine will appreciate the effort. Remember quality, colors, texture, and--most of all--presentation. For extra points, guys, remember flowers sent to her work or even his workplace will mean even more. For this to happen order NOW, not Monday during your lunch hour. Valentine's Day is the busiest time of the year for the florist to deliver flowers because it's a one day holiday. The earlier the better, or they could think you forgot them and just remembered when someone reminded you! Enjoy!!

If you are looking to grow roses that you may receive during Valentine's Day in your garden, then consider moving to California. But if you want better roses than the florist can supply you, think about growing roses in your garden. It won't be easy, it will be a lot of work, but it is possible to have wonderful, fragrant roses from your own garden.

Here is what you will need. Choose a location in your yard that has sun all day long, not just part of the day--but all day! If that location is sheltered from the harsh winter winds, it would be a big plus for the rose bushes. Strong winds, especially during a winter with little to no snow cover, are rough on the plants because they are dry and the wind will rob the plant of moisture. If your chosen location is open, then be sure to build a mound of organic matter like bark mulch or top soil around the plant 12 to 18 inches high in the shape of an igloo in the late fall.

I also recommend that each fall you spray those roses with an anti-desiccant spray like Wilt-Pruf or Wilt-Stop to help seal in moisture in the stems before you cover the plant with organic matter. Also NEVER prune your roses back in the fall, always in the spring but-again--NEVER in the fall! If your roses are getting tall and you want to prune them back, it must be done in early September. This is possible while the plant is actively growing so the plant will be able to produce callouses on the area where you cut to seal the stem from the wind. Winter protection is a must if you want your roses to survive the winter season--or you could just wish for 3 feet of snow that will protect the plants with a blanket effect.

You have the location, now let us work on the soil. The better you prepare the area before you plant, the better they will grow for you. Remember that these plants will be in your garden for many years, so put the effort into the soil now for better plants in the future. Roses like a well-drained soil. If spring rains and winter ice build up in the soil around the roots, the plant will suffer and will not grow well. If you have a clay type soil, just blend a lot of organic matter like compost, peat moss, animal manure, and coarse sharp sand to break up the clay. Yearly applications of a garden gypsum will help break up the clay particles.

Once the roses are planted, be sure to cover the ground with organic matter like bark mulch, compost, pine needles, or peat moss. This will keep out weeds, hold the heat in the ground longer in the fall season, keep moisture in the ground longer during the hot days of summer, and help to protect the roots of the plant during the winter by keeping it frozen once it does freeze. Stay away from stone mulches, as they will heat up the ground during hot weather, increasing the need to water.

Water is important to roses and they will need 1 to 2 inches of water a week during the summer. If water supply is not adequate, the plant will not develop as quickly and the number of flowers will be less. Watering roses is important, but not as important as how you water them! If you can put the water around the plant without wetting the foliage, your disease problems will be cut back a great deal. Never use a sprinkler system that applies water overhead or a sprinkler attached to your hose to water plants. Take off the nozzle and let the water run on the ground between plants or better still lay a drip hose on the ground around the plants before you cover the plants with mulch.

Fertilizer is also important and roses love to be fed regularly. Feed them every month with a granular food designed for roses like Rose-tone organic fertilizer or a liquid food every two weeks. Fertilizer is applied in early April and this should continue until September first. NO fertilizer after September first, because you want the plant to prepare itself for the winter--and if you feed it, the plant will continue to make new growth. You want the plant to stop growing and begin to thicken the stems, bark and tissue to help prevent wind damage during the winter.

Insect and disease problems come to your garden when you plant roses, but you can minimize the problems if you plan ahead. Gardening companies like Bonide Lawn and Garden, and Bayer Advance have wonderful products to help control these problems. Set up a prevention program early in the spring and keep on it during the growing season to minimize problems.

Now get yourself a good book on roses, read it during these snowy days and begin to select the roses you would like in your garden. Think, hardiness, resistance to problems, fragrance, color, and--most of all-repeating blooms. Enjoy!!