It's Valentine’s Day — a day of love and romantic dinners. But for local flower shops, it's one of the busiest days of the year.
For Florillia Floral Design in downtown Orillia, Valentine’s Day is the second busiest day of the year — just behind Mother's Day.
"Everybody has a mother, grandmother, and some have a mother-in-law,” explained Meagan Breukelman, the owner of Florillia. "Not everybody has a sweetheart."
For Valentine’s Day, Florillia ordered around 2,000 roses and they expect to sell out some time today.
"Flowers are a classic symbol of love," Breukelman said. "Since the beginning of time, giving flowers has kind of been the romantic thing to do to mark a special occasion."
While roses are the top seller for Florillia, Breukelman says there are a ton of mixed bouquet orders this year.
"People want something a little bit different," she said. "A lot of people are asking for gerbera daisies, long-lasting flowers like chrysanthemums, and lilies."
While most flowers last one to two weeks, Breukelman says you can sometimes preserve flowers to last a little longer.
"The best way to make your flowers last longer is to keep them in a cool place out of direct sunlight," she said. "Give them fresh water every couple of days with a fresh snip."
The fact that flowers only last a couple of weeks makes them a special gift, Breukelman says.
"It marks the occasion," she said. "I think people enjoy the sentiment that somebody was thinking of them and made the effort to order and send them flowers."
Breukelman thanks the community for supporting Florillia throughout the year and during the busy holiday seasons.
"It's really nice to see familiar faces every holiday," she said. "It means a lot."
For Evans Flowers in downtown Orillia, Valentine’s Day is the busiest single day of the year. They have 400 to 500 orders on deck.
"There are lots of people who buy flowers for their children, parents, spouses, and friends," said owner Sandra Wink. "It's not just for the girls, we have lots going out to gentlemen, too."
Wink says flowers make a great gift because they help to express emotions.
"They are beautiful," Wink said. "They are colourful on dark and gloomy February days. They brighten up any room and anybody’s face when you give them to somebody."
Wink says it's important to use warm water to preserve flowers. She also suggests cutting stems at an angle with a sharp knife instead of scissors.
"Make sure you change the water consistently," she said. "Make sure there aren't any bacteria in your vases and you are keeping them in a cooler room."
Both Evans Flowers and Florillia will have flowers available on Valentine's Day, but stock may be limited.
"The earlier you get here, the better," Wink said. "Our stock does go down quicker than it does on a normal day."
