MILLICENT has shown romance is not dead, with the town flooded with a sea of red roses, chocolates, teddy bears and sweeping declarations of love on Valentine’s Day.
McCourts Garden Centre florist Margie White was busy in the lead-up to Thursday, spending many hours and long nights organising orders in time for the annual celebration.
“Valentine’s Day eve was a huge day,” she said.
“I finished up close to midnight.
“Orders have remained much the same over the years, I had probably around 70 this year and people were still coming into the shop during the day placing last minute orders.”
Ms White said this year many people stepped away from giving traditional red roses to those they admire on the international day of love.
“They ask me to weave my own creativity so that is what I do,” she said.
“Grasses and natural flowers and plants are more the go.
“I do a lot of researching to keep up with the trends.
“Chocolates and teddy bears are still quite popular, particularly among my younger customers.”
Meanwhile, McCourts Garden Centre owner Christine Agnew said she too had people purchasing unique Valentine’s Day gifts in her shop.
“One woman brought her husband an avocado tree,” she said.
“He does not even like avocado, she said he just always wanted to grow one.
“We have also sold necklaces and jewellery.”
Valentine’s Day may be over for another year, but McCourts Garden Centre and Florist now gears up for its biggest day of the year – Mother’s Day, which falls on May 12.
“Mother’s Day is definitely the busiest day of the year for me,” Ms White said.
“I have a lot of people from away who come into town for Mother’s Day and place orders with me.”
