1 Cole Gardens, 430 Loudon Road, goes beyond traditional floral arrangements. Planted pots make a nice gift, like this pink Cyclamen ($5.99). For an even nicer presentation, choose a planted pot cover ($8.99). For green thumbs, we also liked the windowsill greenhouse ($4.99). For the furry valentine in your life, try growing cat grass ($2.69). The store also carries wine, artificial rose petals and garden gifts, and grows its own lilies. Contact: 229-0655, colegardens.com Zoom 2 Pine Bough Gifts, 341 Loudon Road, isn’t lacking for great gift ideas. For the guys, the store carries several sports-themed signs that would be great for a “man cave” or even for dressing up the garage ($67.95). Does your valentine love to cook? Encourage the habit with this cute recipe card gift set with a mini wooden spoon and cutting board ($13.50). Colorful mugs are available in either right- or left-handed models ($21). There’s plenty more to choose from, particularly for those who love country-themed decor! Contact: 226-3999, pineboughunfinishedfurniture.com Zoom 3 Blooming Iris, 78 N. Main St., carries gifts for all ages. Your little valentines will appreciate the addition of Mr. Squiggles ($15.95) to their Zhu Zhu pet collection. Cute coin purses ($10) are available in several patterns with plenty of matching accessories. Pretty birds ($24.95) open to reveal storage for jewelry and other small trinkets. If your sweetie likes charm bracelets, check out the store’s new line of beads. They’re compatible with Pandora, Chamilia and Troll bracelets and cost $7-$20 per bead. Contact: 224-5246 Zoom 4 Concord Camera, 29 N. Main St., has you covered with several personalized gift options. Mouse pads with the image of your choice are $19.95, or create a photo book with treasured photographs starting at $3.49. Also available are personalized mugs ($17.99) and greeting cards (89 cents to $1.89). Orders take about two days. In a rush? Call the store, and they’ll see what they can do. Contact: 225-5891, concordcamera.com Zoom 5 Annie’s Bookstop, 132 Loudon Road, offers plenty in the romance department. While the store specializes in used books, there’s a good selection of new paperbacks too. You can’t beat the price, at about $6.99 for a mass-market paperback. Contact: 224-8050 Zoom

Valentine's Day can be a tough holiday. Some think it's totally commercial and don't want to buy into the hype. Others appreciate the concept, but not the diet-thwarting chocolate component.

We support a middle-of-the-road approach and suggest buying a little something for your sweetie that shows your appreciation for him or her. If he or she likes roses and sugary goodies, you have a plethora of options this time of year. But if you're looking for something a little different, consider these offerings from local shops. After all, nothing says "I love you" like a gift you put some thought into (or borrowed from the Insider).