Local flower shop owners offer advice for Valentine’s Day
Published 8:36 am Monday, February 6, 2017
ABOVE: East Main Gardens flower arrangement designer Brenda Schlutt holds up a Valentine’s Day bouquet Friday afternoon at the store. (Leader photos/KELSEY HAMMON)
Stuffed bears are displayed at the Flower Cart. (Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
Decorations hang at the Flower Cart. (Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
A Valentine’s Day bouquet waits is shown among decoration at East Main Gardens. The store has served southwest Michigan since 1921.(Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
From hiding engagement rings in bouquets to trekking through a foot of snow in order to get flowers delivered on Valentine’s Day, local flower shop owners share how they have helped residents express their love with family, friends and sweethearts.
Additionally, these long-time flower shop owners share how to prepare for the holiday and why a local florist could be the best option.
The Flower Cart
Phil Hurlbutt has owned The Flower Cart at 1124 N. Fifth St. in Niles for 38 years. On Friday afternoon, Hurlbutt was busy taking orders and preparing for the holiday with seasonal employee Peg Maiers.
Store hours: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Flower Cart will be open special Sunday, Feb. 12.
Hurlbutt’s advice: Do not use the fly by night companies. Call your local florist.
Why do you think flowers make a great gift to give on Valentine’s Day?
To show your love. Not just for that day, but for the year. Just to keep the love and the feelings going. Valentine’s Day is not just for the spouse, it is for friends. People will send [flowers] to their good friends.
From behind the counter, Maiers jumps in.
Everybody sees them. It is more visible than anything. It is an acknowledgement that your husband, boyfriend is thoughtful.
What is the average number of last minute orders that you have to deal with?
We are open until 6 p.m. Feb. 14, and we still have people coming in at 6 p.m. We are used to that. We stress our base clientele to order early and to have it delivered earlier.
What is your most popular order?
Roses are your standard. It is the most popular flower. My clientele, we stress them to choose designer’s choice. Would you rather have a dozen red roses or [he points to a bouquet with a variety of flowers]? There is creativity involved and so let the designers do their thing. It does not have to be roses. I stress not to use them as much, but it is the most popular because it is the symbol of love.
Can you share a heart-warming anecdote about making someone’s Valentine’s Day special?
Peg takes the reins: Dads will sometimes send little bears and candy and a rose to each of his daughters, which I think is precious.
Hurlbutt: That tugs at your heartstrings. The dad thought of every single child.
We have had engagement rings worked into the arrangement. That was fun, but also scary. You have to be there at a specific time so that immediately after the flowers are delivered the [person proposing] walks in. We were on the phone constantly. You are always cautious of that ring. We wired everything in but put it [the ring] inside of a rose.
Anything else?
The day after [Valentine’s Day] is almost as bad. Because all the people that said “I do not want anything. Do not buy me flowers,” and they come home thinking “I bet they bought me flowers.”
Orders can be made online at theflowercartmi.com.
East Main Gardens
East Main Gardens, 1521 E. Main St., owner Mike Peters grew up helping his parents run the flower shop that they first opened in Niles in 1921. Peters recalls watching cartoons on the weekend as a child and also creating bows for the flowers. On Friday afternoon, Peters was already in the thick of deliveries.
Peters’ advice: Order early and call your local florist.
Store hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. East Main Gardens will be open special Sunday, Feb. 12.
Why do flowers make a good Valentine’s Day gift?
Flowers say what you feel. Even if you have a bad day, they make you feel better. On a holiday like Valentine’s Day they make you think of how much you care for that person.
How do you prepare for the busiest day of the year?
For our business, preparation is key to always being ready for whatever happens. We make stuff ahead of time so that we can take care of people. That is your main objective. A lot of people are undecided when they come in so there is more for them to look at, so they can say ‘Oh, I like that.’ You can add a bear or two or a balloon, you can add candy to it. We have all those little extras that make your Valentine’s even more special.
Any special occasions you have helped with a flower delivery?
We have had someone send a ring along in a dozen roses.
Another anecdote: About 30 years ago, Peters was making Valentine’s Day deliveries after a bad snow storm dropped approximately a foot of snow the night before. Peters was driving the delivery truck eight miles north of town on a one- lane road off of M-140. The truck could not make it through the snow, so Peters had to pull over and delivery the flowers on foot. As he was struggling through the snow drift, a person on a snow mobile rode up and asked Peters if he needed a lift. Peters accepted. The flower recipient enjoyed the special delivery and took several pictures of Peters delivering the bouquet on snow mobile.
Orders may be made online at eastmaingardensflorist.com.
