Valentines Day - the day when cut flower prices go through the roof and florists line their pockets for the rest of the year. This time around why not, save your pennies and pick homegrown flowers for your special someone?

Don't have anything flowering? Beg, steal or borrow from your friends and family's gardens! A handmade posy or bouquet is cost-effective and has the bonus of being a gift straight from the heart.

Even, if you're not into the so called 'day of love', it's nice to have flowers in your garden that can be picked and given away or added to vases in your home. And so, on that note, what more appropriate flower could I write about this month than Love in the mist?

Love in the mist has fine green foliage, different shades of blue flowers and makes a perfect cut flower. It has a wild and soft look to it much like cosmos and alyssum.

It's ideal for planting in with your roses, as it likes the same sunny, dry conditions. All you have to do is dig a small hole and plant each seedling around 15cm apart from the next. The trick is to plant each seedling far enough away to allow room to grow without the plants being too spread apart so you end up with gaps.

You can pick up your Awapuni Nurseries Love in the mist seedlings from your local supermarket, Bunnings or The Warehouse. Alternatively, order them from our online store and have them delivered direct to your door.

While, these flowers won't be ready in time for Valentines Day, they will add colour to your garden or home in around six weeks when they begin to flower.