Valentines Gifts: Not Just Flowers & Candy
Fun fact: According to the National Retail Federation, Valentine's Day spending reached $25.8 billion overall — an average of $185.81 per person in 2024. I think this is because Valentine's gift-giving has evolved to include ALL THE LOVES of our lives: Spouses, Special Friends, Parents, Kids, Co-workers, Teachers, and even Pets. Therefore, it’s only fitting that our gift options evolve as well.
Alternative Valentine Gift Ideas
I like to encourage giving flowers, but as you know, I try to support local growers and not many local Pennsylvania flower growers have blooms in frigid February. So I’ve written a short list of sentimental alternatives that should help you think outside the candy box and express your Valentine LOVE more creatively.
Give A Pressed Flower Frame
Framing a sentimental piece with pressed flowers is a nice way to remember an event. Pressed flower frames can be propped on a small shelf, a mantle, or hung over a photo commemorating the actual experience. Wedding invitations, baby ultrasounds, engagement photos, and small mementos like rings become elevated keepsakes when surrounded by pretty flowers and a simple frame. And it’s even better if the flowers are unique to the event, so consider drying and pressing your own.
Shadow boxes are best for three-dimensional objects but floating frames work well for flat art and pressed flowers. If you are creating a three-dimensional frame and want dried flowers, learn how to dry your own here. And if you’d like to press your own fresh flowers, I recommend this flower press. It’s the one I use and it works nicely and looks even better sitting on the table.
Give A Flower Farm Tour or Photo shoot
Did you ever think about contacting a local farm and arranging a walking tour or photoshoot? This is more of a “for the future” gift and would be perfect for someone who loves gardens or summer strolls, has a special event coming up, or for someone who has everything tangible and needs nothing more.
I’ve teamed up with local flower growers here in Pennsylvania and hosted several pre-wedding flower farm tours. During the tours brides, grooms and their guests see all of the flowers that will be growing on or near the date of their wedding. They can choose a specialty flower to be grown especially for them or just ask questions and speak with the grower about the different varieties available. But this unique type of gift does not need to be reserved for newly engaged couples. Think about taking a friend and a bottle of wine for a tour of a local sunflower field or arranging a family photo shoot at a local lavender farm or vineyard. All of these ideas make wonderful Valentine's gifts that can be enjoyed well past February.
Give Something Evergreen and Unique
Did you ever receive a potted plant and think, this I so wonderful because it will live much longer than a week? That’s the joy an evergreen gift brings. An evergreen gift is a gift that keeps on giving long after its moment in the sun. There are so many evergreen ideas out there but here are a few that involve nature itself. Consider a Terrarium, Moss Wall or Nature Experience as a gift for your Valentine this year.
Terrariums can be assembled using a few small plants, some rocks that you find in your backyard, a little bit of soil, live moss, and some natural embellishments that you hunt for outside. And don’t think that you need to build yours in a glass bowl. Terrariums come in many shapes and sizes these days. I search thrift shops for large gravy boats and interesting pedestal compotes to make mine. Terrariums are great because they will last a really long time, are gender-neutral and they can be custom-built for your special someone. They are perfect for any space in the house, dormitory, or office and require very little care.
A Moss Wall is a popular nature wall hanging that uses preserved moss and requires no care at all. They are easily created with a base tray, some reindeer moss, hot glue, and nature embellishments of your choice. They are fun to make and will certainly make your Valentine smile if you gather supplies and arrange a Moss Wall Creation day just for them.
Another idea is to surprise your Valentine with a custom-designed Nature Experience. A Nature Experience is just as it sounds, an experience created around a nature workshop of some sort. There are so many workshops to consider. There are Bouquet Bars, Terraium or Plant Workshops, Dried Flower Workshops and Wreath Workshops to name just a few. But really, anything you can think up can be used to create a unique gift of a Nature Experience. This gift is fantastic because it allows the recipient to essentially build their own gift by doing something they enjoy with people they like, and it’s perfect for almost any time of year. So don’t rule out giving a practical and special Evergreen Gift. And if you need ideas, see this page.
I hope these ideas inspire you. Happy Valentine’s Day all! - Kim