With Valentine's Day on the horizon, Maxine Gordon looks at what women want.

NORTH Yorkshire's budding young florists are gearing up for the busiest day of their careers so far - Valentine's Day.

As many people enjoy a lie in on Saturday, students on the Modern Apprenticeships' floristry programme at Askham Bryan College will be preparing their first romantic arrangements.

Apprentices from Bedale, Malton, Scarborough and Selby picked up last minute tips and trends from their tutor Kate Pepper this week.

"This is the busiest day in the floristry calendar so everyone in the business will be working flat out. We have been preparing for this since last September," she said.

"Most of the requests will be for fairly traditional flowers such as red roses, tulips and carnations. At college we can show our young florists the latest trends and they can try out new ideas that they can take back to their employers."

WOMEN are in the mood to be wooed. But, according to a new survey, 40 per cent are unlikely to return the favour on Valentine's Day. Diamond, a direct insurer specialising in car insurance for women, asked customers to name the best Valentine's gift.

The most popular choice was a night in a hotel (30 per cent), followed by a candlelit dinner (20 per cent); chocolate and flowers (18 per cent); a hot air balloon ride (12 per cent); underwear (ten per cent); and a marriage proposal (seven per cent).

While it is obvious that women don't have a problem receiving gifts, their giving skills leave a lot to be desired. Twenty-five per cent said they would not be giving their loved ones anything on Valentine's Day.

Sian Lewis, managing director at Diamond, said: "Valentine's Day is traditionally a day when men romance their partners with dinner, chocolates and flowers. It seems this is one tradition women are happy to follow, even if they aren't doing any of the romancing themselves."

Check it out/chuck it out for Valentine's Day

We love...

If you want a bit of pash, flash the cash. Sorry chaps, but nothing says "I love you" better than an empty wallet. And whether they are heart-shaped or square-shaped, diamonds are still a girl's best friend. These rather snazzy diamond ear studs from Wint & Kidd will do for starters.

TALKING of starters brings us neatly to desserts. Bettys has come up with the ultimate Valentine's face-filler in the form of its Swiss chocolate cake topped with three handmade hearts. Made from ground almonds and hazelnuts, whipped with eggs, sugar, butter, dark chocolate and a dash of kirsch, it sits seductively under a generous coating of chocolate frosting with a piped filigree pattern in milk chocolate. If all that weren't enough, you can also have it delivered to your door, so you don't have to waste precious calories waddling down to the Davygate caf.

We hate...

This marabou-trimmed, heart-shaped cushion from Bhs is a great piece of frilly fun. But as a Valentine's Day gift it is about as exciting as a pack of embroidered hankies. As a romantic stocking-filler it might just about pass muster, but as a main present it leaves a lot to be desired. As any chap who tries to butter up their beloved with a cushion will soon discover.

A pair of comfy jimjams are great for a Bridget Jones night in with a bottle of chardonnay and a family-sized box of Maltesers, but when it comes to an evening of red hot passion, flannelette can be a bit of a let down.

We usually love pjheaven.co.uk, but covering a pair of pyjamas in love hearts does not a happy valentine make. If you are looking for love, linger a little longer over your lingerie choice.

Beauty goodies to win

LOOK beautiful for your beau on Valentine's Day with a little help from Carolyn K, a fab and funky range of beauty accessories.

Having worked as an international make-up artist for more than ten years, Carolyn was forever searching for the perfect tools for her trade. Years of travel led to the discovery of great products which she now sells under her own label at Fenwick, Coppergate, York.

Among the 30 cool items in the range are sponges, powder puffs and eyelash curlers, each featuring professional tips from Carolyn. New products due out later this year include a range of make-up brushes.

In addition, with every product purchased, 5p is donated to Breast Cancer Campaign, making the beauty accessories worthwhile as well as style savvy.

We have ten Carolyn K products for one lucky reader to win. Just answer this question: Where in York can you buy the Carolyn K range?

Full details of how to enter on page 14 of tonight's Evening Press (10/02/04)

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, February 10, 2004