It's time again for the question "What should I get my valentine?"

Gifts may include everything from flowers, candy, teddy bears or homemade dinners, but it's the florists that are especially busy this time of year.

"Valentine's Day is the single busiest day or two of the year," Allen Baney, owner of Avant Garden, 242 E. Calder Way, said.

"When it gets closer to the holiday we'll be working through the weekend," he said.

Red roses are usually associated with Valentine's Day, but some florists are trying to encourage people to buy other types of floral arrangements.

"Roses are the most popular, but I try to promote tulips and other arrangements that last longer. Mixed flowers are nice because you get more for your money," Baney said.

Besides the typical red roses and mixed flower arrangements, other new and practical gifts are available for Valentine's day this year.

"This year we have flowers mounded into a cube or bubble bowl that tend to last longer," Baney said.

Other more extravagant types of flowers are also expected to catch shoppers' eyes.

"Roses dipped in 24 karat gold are doing really well this year. The roses are treated and the stem is also dipped in gold," Linda Johnson, owner of State College Floral Shoppe, 127 W. Beaver Ave., said.

Although florists are trying to steer people away from buying the traditional roses, many girls still love receiving them.

"I'd like to get white or colorful roses. Definitely not red though," Jess Sheridan (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said.

Other girls are less picky when it comes to flowers.

"I'm not picky with flowers as long as they're not carnations. I really like chocolate and conversation hearts too. If I got a bag of those I'd be happy," Hayley Schaeffer (sophomore-education) said.

Flowers, aren't the only gifts popular for Valentine's Day.

"Next to flowers, we also sell a lot of plush animals, candy, balloons and teddy bears. We also sell a lot of rose petals by the bag," Baney said.

Johnson suggests that whatever the gift, it should be very varied.

"I think lilies and roses together with chocolate and a plush animal is a good gift," she said.

Baney said trendier flowers like mixed flowers, lilies and daisies sell more to students.

"Guys don't know many types of flowers. They order what they know," Baney said. There are some guys, however, have it all figured out.

"I think it all depends on how serious you and your girlfriend are," Dan Dilanzo (sophomore-secondary education). Roses, if you've been dating a girl for only a couple weeks, may come off a little strong. Personally, I like going online and checking out the different bouquets."

Students with long distance relationships also have to figure out a way to impress their valentines.

"I'm sending my girlfriend who goes to University of Maryland her favorite flowers, which are Calla lilies," Amit Patel (freshman-supply chain and information systems) said.

Now the big question is, what do girls get the guys for Valentine's Day?

"I don't think guys have much use for flowers. Maybe a picture frame or something we can remember would be better," Patel said. Sheridan had a similar opinion to Patel.

"Girls shouldn't give guys flowers. I'm thinking of cooking my boyfriend dinner," she said.

A card is a thoughtful way to top off any Valentine's Day gift.

"You've got to write the note from the heart," Dilanzo said.