Rachel Cornwell with her rose bush grown from an Evening Star single rose.

NOT being a great romantic, I tend not to bother with Valentine’s Day and would probably favour plastic roses – they last longer and always look their best.

However, a few years ago when the Evening Star was giving away a single red rose free with the paper, I thought that was a pretty good deal and would win me lots of brownie points, and so took one home to Mrs C.

Rachel was thrilled. But the best part was what happened after that.

When the flower was past its best, her father Derek took a cutting and did something clever gardeners know about called striking it, and when it grew roots potted it up.

In fact, two plants were struck.

Now we – and a friend – have a thriving rose bush of several red blooms which flowers every year, all grown from that one free flower. Quite wonderful – and, of course, it means there is no need for plastic ones or to buy any others at all.