Valentine season is not just for romantic love.  There are two paper red hearts that hang on a cupboard in my kitchen as a reminder that there are several people living alone who need a hug or a kind gesture this Valentine’s Day. Strangers’ names are written on the bright, cut-out hearts, including Ray from Warren and Ann of Troy. I don’t know them, but I have their addresses (also inscribed on the hearts) and will soon put Valentine’s Day cards in the mail for these two. I’ll ask my sons to write a line or two to Ann and Ray, wishing them a good day and letting them know that people — even …

A Valentine’s bouquet of fresh flowers is typically so beautiful you wish they’d last forever. Obviously, cut flowers do have an expiration date, but by choosing specific varieties and performing various maintenance procedures, your bouquets can be your “best buds” for a good while. Carnations, alstromeria and roses top the list of longest-lasting cut flowers, said Jocie Rogers corporate floral coordinator for English Gardens. “Carnations can last up to 15 days in a vase,” explained Rogers. “They come in an array of colors; white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, striped and so on.”  They …

As Diane Harris of My House of Style peruses her wares in her inviting Birmingham boutique, she contemplates the popularity of the color red. “Red is such a beautiful and strong color,” notes the purveyor of jewelry and great boxes and bags in which to keep one’s jewels. The shop features everything from bangles and cuffs to necklaces, rings and earrings and various accessories that would make any woman happy, especially on Valentine’s Day. “We have a special program where a woman can come in and register her favorite items in the store and then her significant other can come in and check the…