Bouquets of roses are a popular choice for Valentine's Day gift giving.

Valentine's Day — Feb. 14 — is a day to celebrate romantic love and friendship, particularly with flowers.

Saint Valentine's Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine, was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496, in honor of the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on that date in AD 269.

The flower most often associated with Valentine's Day is the rose. A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae. Traditionally, red roses symbolize love and romance, while white roses represent innocence and purity.

There are numerous ways to give roses to your Valentine gardener.

Everyone appreciates the beauty of cut roses in a bouquet or vase, with their soft petals, elegant stems and light fragrance.

Place cut roses in a vase of cold water and flower food. Cut stems before arranging them in the vase. Change the water every other day. Keep the roses in a cool location and enjoy them for about a week.For gardeners who prefer houseplants, mini annual rose bushes fit the bill. These plants will bloom throughout the winter and can be placed outdoors in the late spring.Keep the plant in bright light and keep the soil moist. Deadhead as needed and offer a light fertilizer in late spring. Purchase mini rose plants at grocery stores, nurseries and floral shops.Rose shrubs are perfect for gardeners who can delay gratification until summer. Peruse online nursery vendors for rose shrubs that are hardy for U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4-6. Make selections that are disease-resistant and plant in sunny, well-drained soil. Look for interesting varieties of roses, such as climbers, standards and rebloomers to bring size and scale to the landscape design.

Perhaps cut roses, potted roses and rose shrubs are not appealing to your Valentine gardener. Books about growing and using roses, rose gardens and rose history abound.Rose-scented perfume, rose essential oils and other rose-scented or based products present a viable alternative to the real rose.If none of these options appeal to your Valentine gardener, try rose-printed or rose-colored gardening gloves, garden hats or gardening implements. Even St. Valentine would appreciate the beauty of a rose, in any shape or form.For questions about rose shrubs call the Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, Ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.<em>Lisa Marie Bernardo, PhD, RN, is a Penn State Master Gardener of Butler County.</em>

Mini rose plants will bloom for a few months. Remove decorative wrap then water and place in sunlight.submitted photos

Lisa Marie Bernardo, PhD, RN, has been a Penn State Master Gardener in Butler County since 2003. Her gardening passions include native plant garden design and she is a sustainable landscape designer, certified through the Phipps Conservatory. Bernardo is interested in the effects of physical activity for cancer survivors and enjoys teaching about the physical benefits of gardening.SUBMITTED PHOTO