Behind the Scenes at Valentines

People often ask what our busiest time of the year is. Hands down it is Valentine’s Week. Our staff of 25 increases to a staff of over 60 in order to process flowers, answer phones, make arrangements (nearly 1500 the week of Valentine’s) and deliver them all to happy sweethearts.

It takes a lot of coordination, planning and hard work to make all of this happen. We have an amazing staff here at Dandelions who are dedicated to creating an experience for each person who places their trust with us when they order flowers in Eugene as well as for the recipient who is gifted flowers.

In order to store such a quantity of flowers we bring in a refrigerated semi-truck the week before Valentine’s. Our amazing crew who processes the flowers when they arrive and prepares them for designing works tirelessly, and often in the rainy cold, to make sure the flowers are at their best.  Our design staff creates bouquets and gift packages for each order all day…often standing in one place most of the day. It’s certainly not a walk in the park to be a florist!

Our sales staff helps countless numbers of men (and women!) choose the right style for their special Valentine and our blessed delivery drives brave the elements to bring a smile to individuals around Eugene and Springfield.

Valentine’s is a special time of love and an opportunity to convey your feelings to those around you. We feel pride in working hard to make this day be special for you!

Our design manager,Tami, creates low vases of roses for a clean, modern look

Red flowers and babies breath are always a popular choice for Valentine’s Day. As you can see…we make lots!

There are lots of fun, family moments at the holidays for many of our staff. Diana has been at Dandelions for over 25 years and her daughter, Miriam, gets here feet wet helping out

A smile and a cheery attitude go a long way when working long days. Sheri brings sunshine wherever she goes

Crews work to get the flowers ready for the designers as soon as they arrive

We need a refrigerated semi-truck to hold all of the flowers (plus our regular coolers) and Tara keeps it organized

We utilize a completely different building for additional floral designers at the holidays to fill orders as fast as they come in. They are quite busy…notice you can’t see the floor!

Delivery drives await their arrangements for their first deliveries of the day. We have a pretty nifty system for keeping all the orders organized so we know which driver takes what.

Helping drivers load up their flowers. Each driver takes a small section of town on each run and then comes back and loads up some more

Marie, always cheerful, finalizes red bouquets for a lucky Valentine

No rest for weary Mamas! One-handed designing takes a bit longer but we need all hands on deck!

The news often stops by to see the hustle and bustle and take a moment to smell the wonderful fragrance of the flower store

Alternatives to roses for Valentine’s Day

Roses for Valentine’s Day, right? It doesn’t have to be.

Although roses are the traditional flower choice for Valentine’s Day there are a myriad of choices to express your love.

If You Want to Stay with Red:

Red is the color of love so choosing a flower in this color still holds the implied message.  Tulips are a popular choice and they have such a unique nuance about them. Tulips continue to grow after their stems are cut so they take on a life of their own, changing each day.

Gerbera daisies are refreshing and cheerful. Their deep red hue looks amazing in a mixed, traditional bouquet or designed in a contemporary, modern fashion.

Carnations are ideal for a traditionalist and come at a fraction of the price. Steer clear of babies breath and ask for the carnations to be created in a low container for an updated look.

A mixed red bouquet can include a variety of flowers that are available including alstromeria, carnations, hypericum berries, gerbera daisies, or ranunculus.

If You Want to Impress with Modern Elegance:

Tropical flowers are the perfect way to send something different. They are incredibly long-lasting and have fun colors and textures. Personally, I think a vase of all orchids looks stunning all on its own. Heart-shaped anthurium and ginger come in Valentine’s colors but any tropical arrangement will be impressive.

Hydrangea is also a great choice with its fluffy, cloud-like blossoms. Soft white hydrangea paired with pink or red flowers is elegant and can fit into any budget.

After roses, stargazer lilies are the most popular flower choice for Valentine’s Day. Their sweet fragrance fills the air and they have a beautiful pink color.

Why Roses for Valentines?

Everyone knows that the traditional and iconic flower for Valentine’s Day is the long stem red rose. Why is this?

Well, Valentine’s Day actually originated during the Roman Empire as a celebration of Saint Valentine who, it was believed, performed weddings for soldiers forbidden from marrying as well as ministering to Christians. He was later executed by Emperor Claudius II- Valentine’s Day is actually an official religious holiday in various denominations.

Photo by Syndicate Sales

Red: Love, Respect
Photo from Teleflora

After centuries of traditions becoming associated with the holiday the red rose now stands as the most widely recognized symbol. Red roses convey the message of love, passion and desire. During the Victorian era, flowers were commonly sent to convey complex meanings and messages as each flower had a specific meaning attached to it. This idea was the center of the popular book “The Language of Flowers”.

All flowers are beautiful but to send a clear message that says “I love you”, the red rose is the winner, hands down. A simple, single rose (at any time of the year) is a sweet gesture and send 3 dozen or 4 dozen long stem red roses REALLY makes the message clear.

As a florist, part of the reason I love Valentine’s Day (apart from the sleep deprivation and very tired hands/feet) is talking with customers who want so much for their feelings to be expressed. The gentleman who looks over each rose and selects just the right one to be wrapped and taken home reminds me of why we do what we do. He wants to show his love. He wants it to be just right. It is just so sweet and I get to be there to help assure him she will love it and to make it special.

So whether it is a single rose budvase or a room full of roses, the message is the same. You are loved.

Local florists are best bet for Valentine’s Day

For the best Valentine’s Day experience, stick with a brick-and-mortar flower store to ensure the best customer service and quality assurance. You don’t have to sacrifice convenience at all because most florists make the ordering process easy with online shopping…even SAME DAY DELIVERY!

Here at Dandelions, we pride ourselves on our 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed policy and believe that our customer service and design expertise is what sets us above the rest. From a classic arrangement of a dozen red roses to a customized bouquet in the cutting edge trends, our design team makes every arrangement and is hand-delivered by our great drivers.

Need those flowers sent out of town?? Yup…we’ve got you covered there, too. We’ll do the legwork for you and work with another local florist to get your special flowers delivered with care.

So next time you Google “florist Anytown, USA” don’t forget to add the word “local”- you’ll be glad you did!

Valentine’s Day Flowers Made Simple

Roses are certainly the #1 hit for expressing love for Valentine’s Day. There are many other beautiful flowers, however, that also convey romantic feelings.

 

Orchids: Suggestive of beauty and seduction, orchids are ideal for Valentine’s Day. They have an opulence to them that is so luxurious.

 

 

 

Tulips: Ideal alone or tucked in with other flowers tulips are very popular. One of the unique things about tulips is that they continue to grow after cut which is why they tend to take on their own shape.

 

 

Lily: These ancient flowers come in many varieties…

Peruvian lilies (alstromeria), calla lilies, oriental lilies, asiatic lilies & stargazer lilies.

 

 

 

The most romantic flower, of course, is the one that she claims is her favorite. Knowing what her favorite flower is and using it to express your love. If this flower is unusual make sure to let your florist know in plenty of time so that they can obtain it for you.

Although specific flowers have meanings of love or are popularly associated with love, ALL flowers say “I’m thinking of you” in a way nothing else can. Proven to boost moods, flowers are a sure bet.