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Valentine’s Day flowers

It's Valentine's Day on Monday. Walking past a local florist yesterday I spotted buckets ofred roses, sunflowers, gerbera and iris. It's incredible to think that in one of the most dreary months of the year, we can decorate our homes with such jewels of summer.

These unseasonal blooms were likely grown in far flung places such as Africa or South America and flown over to the UK. Those with fewer 'flower miles' will have been raised in giant heated greenhouses closer to home. Cut flowers are big business.

I'm reading Amy Stewart's 'Gilding the Lily' at the moment, which provides a fascinating insight into our love of flowers and the cut flower industry. Stewart describes the devotion of flower breeders and introduces us to Leslie Woodruff, who developed the first upward-facing lily, 'Star Gazer'. She also describes some of the more unpleasant consequences of the industry, including child labour, exposure to harmful chemicals and environmental damage.

Stewart champions the efforts of companies like the The Real Flower Company and Moyses Stevens, which provide decent working conditions for their growers. British flower farms are also popping up in increasing numbers, offering seasonal blooms with a lower carbon footprint to conscientious consumers. Few of them start selling flowers before March, although The Telegraph has published a list of companies offering both British and importedflowers by post.

One day I hope to be able to give my Valentine a posy of cut flowers grown by me, in my garden. That dream is a long way off – looking out this morning I spotted three unopened snowdrops and a grubby looking hellebore. Perhaps I could make a posy using blueberry stems, some clematis leaves and the sad, token blooms. It's the thought that counts, after all.

There are alternatives to giving your valentine flowers, of course. You can show your love by saving a piece of rainforest, sponsor a love nest, or, my favourite, send your loved one a mating call.