“Hello? Church Park Flowers…”

“Is that Curry’s customer service?”

Just one example of random phone calls I receive. But being February I was hoping for the phone to be ringing off the hook with guys ordering red roses by the dozen. Now, I know 99.9 % of girls don’t want red roses - they prefer pink or white or actually just a pretty mixed seasonal bouquet. But to be honest we would be chuffed / suspicious (delete where appropriate) to receive any fabulous flowers on Valentines. It’s not how it used to be, gone are the days where I’d be knee deep in thorns and rose leaves, cursing as yet another thorn tears through my knuckles. Writing the most inappropriate and cryptic messages in to cards. Making clandestine deliveries to places of work and trying to work out more love triangles than an episode of Hollyoaks. (No I don’t actually watch it but that would be my guess) 

These days the romantic gentleman are bombarded by the likes of Lidl’s where they think they can satisfy their partners romantic demands with a teddy, bunch of flowers, dodgy prosecco and naff card for less than a fiver   Look at their smug faces as they scurry across the car parks - just wish I could see the less than genuine grateful smiles of the receiver. Do I sound bitter? Maybe. Everyone just assumes the florist is soo so busy at Valentines and we must be coining it in. The reality is that flower prices are still sky high with gas and freight charges and that before you add the global demand pricing for Valentines. Supply is very tricky at the moment with less planes flying around, less being grown and everyone after the limited stock there is- a perfect storm. (More on that later)

With such uncertainty all around and to try and secure the best prices - I actually had to put my Valentines flower order in before the end of January at which point my order book was empty. So it’s a leap of faith and complete guess work. As Valentines falls on a different day each year it also affects shopping patterns of the lesser spotted romantic male. 

So several hundred of flowers in all colours of the rainbow - with a bias towards reds and pink - started arriving the beginning of February. It looked a lot. It was a lot. The invoice looked a lot. It was a lot. But you just keep the faith and start conditioning, leaf stripping and bouquet making. And just when you think our romantic partners are going to let us down then they emerge with soppy messages in tow and start to order and buy and send and choose flowers. It warmed my heart. There was still love  in the air - I could feel it in my fingers (sore) and I could feel it in my toes (cold) To those of you who received some Church Park Flowers for Valentine’s Day, I hope you felt loved too - because I did in my little blue shop. 

Mad days like Valentines are obviously followed by cleaning up - reorganising the shop and getting back on an even keel. But Eunice had other ideas! The worst storm in eons predicted to hit the South West and I had four weddings in the week of the worse weather. There goes the stress levels - again. Firstly, would the flowers be able to get to me. Planes, boats and road travel was rather risky at best. Cue frantic emails and messages. But all was good with beautiful quality wedding blooms making it safely to the shop.

The first wedding of storm week was a long postponed pre Covid wedding. two years later and they eventually managed to say “I Do”, even if the coastal view was a bit wild. It then quickly became apparent that I would not be opening the shop on the Friday of the worse predicted weather so a quick shuffle of workload and some “taking my work home with me” followed. 

Friday saw me bunkered down at home watching the polytunnel give in to the worst winds and then losing power. To be fair , both were to be expected but still a bit frustrating when it happens! I managed to keep Saturdays wedding flowers safe at home and set off with plenty of time to deliver as never sure how many trees would be down. Luckily I still had power at the shop - helpful to recharge everything we had from home as we would have three days without power- heat- light- internet- phone signal - hot water etc. We survived but not wanting a repeat of that anytime soon. The kids did not appreciate me telling them how lucky they are and if they were only born in Victorian times etc etc…. (Much eye rolling!) 

More backlogs of admin after loss of internet but one day I will get on top of it….

Twos-day! Who knew it was such a thing. I must admit than when I originally booked two weddings for the special date I was a bit surprised to have two bookings for a Tuesday in February. But the date was so unique; 22022022. How cool was that for your wedding date! So two sets of lovely ladies tying the knot on an unique date. One an elopement occasion. Just the two of them, pared back, nice and simple and just what they wanted it to be. The other - well a whole hotel booked out for family and friends for three days of partying. Two different ways of celebrating the same special occasion. One wedding day and date not to be forgotten.

And the just as you are getting into the swing of February it comes to an end. Abruptly. Almost unexpectedly. These short months take you by surprise. but I will count it as a “victory” to have survived Valentines, storms and special and varied weddings.

Next up: March.  Dare I say Spring and the promise that brings. Let’s see…..