Valentine's Day - on a budget

Valentine's Day is just around the corner - one week away, if you're checking the calendar.

But tough economic times might have you pinching your pennies and searching for a less expensive way to say "I love you."

Staff Writer Michelle Eubanks spoke with Lisa Hammond, who owns Duggar's Florist in Tuscumbia with her husband, Jimmy. Duggar offered some suggestions about ways to keep Valentine's Day romantic without breaking the bank.

Q: What are some less expensive floral options?

A: A fresh-cut arrangement will be $30 and up. And, right now, we have blooming plants, such as tulips, hydrangeas, hyacinths, that cost less than a dozen roses.

Q: What other tips do you have for keeping the costs down, maybe below $25?

A: You can pick up the flowers (instead of having them delivered) or ask to have them wrapped instead of in a vase. You might want to get a half-dozen roses instead of a dozen or get a mix of roses with another flower, such as a daisy. We also sell a lot of single stem roses. One of the easiest things to do is to come up with something sweet to put on the card, maybe something a little more personal because that's what the holiday is about, after all.

Q: Is the red rose still the most popular flower at Valentine's Day?

A: Red is the most popular, and, after that, it's probably yellow and pink. We also have several requests for unusual colors such as lavender or white. And we do a lot of mixed roses. The rose will probably always be the most popular flower, but we also get orders this time of year for a favorite flower, such as tulips or Gerber daisies.

Q: Have you seen a change in business from last year to this year? Are as many people ordering, and are the orders as large?

A: The largest delivery day will be Friday, and we've already taken lots of orders for that day. And, so far, the orders we've taken have been for a dozen roses. A lot of the customers we've had are from people who had waited until the last minute who are ordering early. Customers aren't the only ones pinching their pennies. A lot of shops are cutting back because it takes a lot to get ready. A lot of the shops are struggling to make it month to month, and restocking is a big expense.

Q: Has the cost of flowers gone up?

A: All florists pay more for roses that sell on Valentine's Day because of the demand to ship more roses, and growers have to get ready to meet that demand. There's a trickle down effect. A dozen roses, for us, will run between $60 and $100, which is about normal.

Q: Are men still your majority customer base for the day?

A: About 75 percent of our customers are men on that day, but Valentine's Day is not just for sweethearts. You can remember anyone with a single rose.