Thanks a bunch for a guide to flowers

Women can spot a hastily bought bunch from the garage a mile off, so the Flowers & Plants Association has come up with some hints on where to buy your flowers and, to make it even easier, has compiled the Man's Guide to Choosing Flowers.

Supermarket flowers are often very cheap, but be careful. Even if you manage to get off the sticky label, she'll still know it was a cheap, last-minute purchase.

Garage forecourt flowers are probably the worst purchase of all because you weren't even multi-tasking – you'd simply forgotten.

Garage flowers are a complete no-no for any self-respecting man looking to woo his woman.

Online ordering is not bad, especially if you use one of the decent websites who use a network of florists to make and deliver your order. However, be careful if you're having them couriered, because you run the risk they may not arrive on time.

Street stalls are a good combination of economy and personal choice. And because many stalls offer as good a range as a bespoke florist, you can have your gift personally made and wrapped.

The downside is that they don't deliver and so you'll need to hide them somewhere from Saturday – so make sure you have a bucket of water handy.

When it comes to special deliveries, a local florist is probably the best option.

Your lover will know you took the time to pick up the phone or visit the shop but you'll have had the chance to personalise your gift and, if you went in, hand-write the card.