While Valentine's Day is associated with romantic love, its essence extends far beyond couples. It’s a beautiful opportunity to celebrate all forms of love and appreciation in our lives. Whether it’s sharing heartfelt notes with your children, surprising your friends with small tokens of gratitude, or expressing your love and respect for your parents, Valentine’s Day can be a day to make anyone feel special. Instead of the traditional bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day, why not delight in your love with a living plant? Many plants portray the meaning of love, or it can be represented in the colors and shapes of the leaves of many plants. Moth orchid Representing love and beauty, the gift of a luxurious orchid will delight with its blooms—and each flower can last several months. Mini rose bush This token of love can be everlasting. You can move into your garden once the weather is warm enough. To maintain your mini rose indoors, place it in an area where it gets at least 3 hours of light and don’t let them dry out. Heart leaf philodendron One of the easiest plants to grow, heart leaf philodendron will thrive in most office settings. This fast-growing plant is an excellent choice as a gift for novice plant parents. Hoya hearts Hoya kerrii (known as hoya hearts, sweetheart plant or Valentine hoya) is an adorable succulent with leaves that form in undeniable heart shapes. Lucky bamboo Although not true bamboo, this dracaena plant resembles the real thing — and it’s said to be lucky! Two stalks of lucky bamboo represent love and is very easy to care for. It grows well in a pebble-filled container with water—no messy potting soil needed! Combining gifts of living plants with other botanical-inspired items is a thoughtful way to evoke the serene ambiance of a garden. Pairing a vibrant houseplant with delicate botanical jewelry, a gardening book tailored to their specific interests, or a beautifully crafted journal for jotting down garden plans adds personalization. Enhance the experience with the ingredients for a fresh, garden-inspired breakfast in bed, such as herbal teas, honey or jam, or fresh fruits, and complement it with skin care products or botanical fragrances like perfumes, candles, or essential oils that carry the scents of lavender, rose, or eucalyptus. Together, these elements create a multisensory celebration of nature! By broadening the scope of this day, we can create moments of love and kindness that strengthen bonds with everyone we hold dear – a reminder to cherish the meaningful connections we have with those who bring joy, support, and warmth to our lives. This year think outside the chocolate box. But, I mean, don’t be unreasonable…don’t get rid of the chocolate. More local videos here: https://youtube.com/@9news Subscribe to NEXT: https://youtube.com/@Nexton9NEWS Stay connected: 9NEWS Website: http://www.9news.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilike9news Twitter: https://twitter.com/9NEWS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9newsdenver/ Download the 9NEWS App: https://www.9news.com/appredirect/ Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER: https://www.9news.com/email 9NEWS (KUSA) is located in Denver, Colorado.