Bigfork florists ready for Valentine's

By JACOB DORAN / Bigfork Eagle

In case you've forgotten, here's a reminder: today is Valentine's Day.

And if you have waited until today to find something special for that special someone, you're probably already in trouble. Flower shops in Bigfork were already being inundated on Monday and the selections are sure to be largely picked over by the time the big day arrives.

Fortunately, flower shops are known for being creative and helpful, especially when it comes to holidays like Valentine's. In Bigfork, the two choices are Village Florist, next to IGA in the Old Town Centre, and Conrad Floral located on Highway 82 next to Putting On The Ritz.

Both florists bring years of experience to their work. Lois Sudan of Village Florist has been serving the community for the past 30 years, and Joyce Billmayer of Conrad Floral has been in the flower business for 24 years.

Because she specializes in wedding planning, Billmayer has creativity and presentation down to an art form and says she loves what she does, particularly at Valentine's Day.

"There are always a couple of weddings on Valentine's Day," she said. "We've also had people come in and say, 'I'm going to propose to my girlfriend on Valentine's Day. How can I make it special?'"

In one case, Billmayer slid the ring down into the pedals of one of the roses in the arrangement and delivered it to a restaurant where the couple was enjoying their dinner together.

For those who just want to spice things up a bit for their loved one on Valentines Day, Billmayer said that many people buy rose pedals to scatter on the table or bed, or to float in a bath or hot tub drawn as a perfect end to a perfect evening. Although she is able to order pedals prepackaged if requested, she mostly strips them from the roses in-store as they are needed, which ensures that they appear fresh and their scent remains strong.

Billmayer said that the most popular flowers remain roses, often sought in an arrangement along with Star Gazer or Star Fighter oriental lilies. Sudan agreed that spring flowers are always very popular throughout the season, including tulips, which she orders from Holland.

Whatever your taste, both florists agreed that Valentines Day is the busiest half-week of the year for retail florists and stressed that waiting until the last minute is definitely a mistake. So, don't be left having to settle for what everyone else has already picked over.

Also remember that mothers, mother-in-laws, grandmothers and daughters all like to be remembered on Valentines Day.