(Seguin) — Just in case you haven’t heard, Valentine’s Day is this Sunday. But thanks to local floral shops, Cupid will be working overtime to ensure that all the local sweethearts gets their special deliveries on time. Jamie Lum, of Dietz Flower Shop and Tuxedo Rental, says having the holiday fall on a Sunday actually works out a little better for those in the floral industry. She says that’s becaues it provides them a little more time to ensure those Valentine’s Day gifts.
“Sundays definitely make it a little bit differently than doing it in the week simply because then it stretches it out for sure. So, it’s a little easier for us but it makes the deliveries a little bit difficult sometimes just trying to make sure we catch everybody at home on Sunday,” said Lum.
Lum says Valentine’s Day falls just underneath their largest day for doing business. That, of course, is Mother’s Day. Now while flower shops typically get a head start to ensure the right products in February, this year proved a bit more challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been being prepared since October, September of 2020. So, we started thinking about the designs, the flowers we were going to need to have to create our selections for Valentine’s Day due to the disruption because of COVID in the floral industry, we’ve had to make some substitutions and a few changes — a few bumps along the way but we managed to get through with those substitutions and everything seems to be on track now so we are just very thankful,” said Lum.
Now while the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t going to put a stop to this year’s Valentine’s Day deliveries, it will bring about a few changes — changes that Patricia Thornton, of Viola’s Floral and Bridal Shop, says they are ready to handle.
“There’s lots of changes because of COVID. We, of course, have to follow all the health guidelines and make sure we are wearing our mask and sanitizing and we try to call all of our people we are delivering to before we go so they know we are coming. Some people will answer the doors and some people will have us leave it at their front doors. It’s definitely has changed from last year. Also, we are doing a lot of (deliveries) to the nursing homes because some of them can’t get there and they want to make sure the people that they love that are in nursing homes are getting Valentine arrangements this year. So, it’s a little bit different that way also,” said Thornton.
Thornton says flowers, however, are not the only things that Cupid will be offering this year. She says flower shops have more than just the traditional dozen roses.
“We have lots of blooming plant baskets and snack baskets and balloon bouquets but it’s always very popular to do the dozen roses and the mixed spring arrangements also,” said Thornton.
But for those still wanting to give roses, Thornton provides a quick lesson on what each color symbolizes.
“The red means, of course, love and white is purity and then yellow is usually friendship but we do mostly red for Valentines,” said Thornton.
Luvvits Garden Nursery, a component of Luvvits Garden Flower Shop in Geronimo, will also be busy this weekend. Owner Chad Peck says he and his wife Esmeralda have a list of options for those looking to give something a little bit different.
“You can get hanging baskets. We have some nice hanging baskets. You can do a little program that we do is ‘Build Your Own Basket.’ You pick your own flowers or we have six inch potted plants or nice 10 inch potted plants. But right now, a lot of it is in the dormancy and we are doing a lot of gift certificates for March for people to come in after the fact to get some nice plush plants,” said Peck.
With Valentine’s Day being on a Sunday, the hours of operation for your favorite floral shop may be a bit different. Lum says her crew will be working through Sunday afternoon.
“So Saturday, we will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with deliveries and walk-ins available and if they prefer the curbside, then we can definitely accommodate that as well,” said Lum.
Viola’s Flower Shop will offer deliveries on Friday and Saturday. Sunday morning will be pick-up only. As for Luvvit’s Nursery, the business located at 110 Geronimo will be open Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those still needing to place an order are asked to check with their respective business to ensure Valentine Day delivery. Like flower shops, many boutiques and specialty stores will also be extending their hours this weekend to ensure that your Valentine is not left empty handed.