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Community Corner

Bell Flowers in Downtown Battles Valentine's Day Crunch-Time

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue – Aren't You Curious How They Get Delivered to You?

The phone is ringing off the hook, while 15 to 20 busy workers create floral arrangements over the pre-holiday weekend. They take phone and internet orders and make deliveries for Bell Flowers during the Valentine’s Day rush.

Chad Mangum, Vice President of , coordinates it all as the fourth generation to run this local florist at the corner of Georgia and Silver Spring avenues.

A lively energy is in the air as well as the heady scent of hundreds of lilies, violets, and freesia. Large quantities of red balloons, pink bows, and white teddy bears -- all popular bouquet additions – are ready to be added to orders as they come in. Three large coolers full of flowers (one just for tropicals) are stuffed full of already prepared orders and loose flowers ready to go into new arrangements.

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“Roses are by and far the leading sellers on Valentine’s Day, especially the red ones,” Mangum said. “But orchids are gaining in popularity too. More people are asking for them and for scented, potted plants like gardenias. They smell great and last a long time.”

At this time of year, most of the flowers are sourced from local wholesalers who import them from Central and South America. In spring and summer, Bell Flowers tries to purchase more locally grown cut flowers. They buy sunflowers from Amish farms on the Eastern Shore and also purchase cut stems from flowering fruit trees at a local farm.

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Delivery drivers come in and take carts full of arrangements sorted by area and date. Most of the delivery drivers are temporary workers who contact Bell when the busy floral holiday seasons approach. Some of the drivers have worked Valentine’s for Bell Flowers for several decades now.

Most of the orders come from repeat customers who have been using Bell Flowers for years. Mangum commented that, “We are seeing increasing orders for mothers, sisters, and grandchildren. It is not just wives and girlfriends for Valentine’s anymore,” Magnum added.

He has a few customers who also order for multiple ladies -- the exact relationships are not known and are never questioned.

Bell Flowers no longer has a retail store front on Georgia Avenue, but for Valentine’s Day they have a pick-up window on the Silver Spring Avenue side of the building for walk up orders.

They are offering a Valentine’s cash-and-carry special of a dozen red roses for $85 at the window starting at 8:30 a.m. on February 14 until the end of the business day. If the side window is a hit, they are thinking of offering weekly “walk up” specials that will be promoted on Twitter (@Bell_Flowers) and other social media.

Discussion: What are you doing to celebrate Valentine's Day this year?


About the Author: Kathy is the editor of Washington Gardener magazine (www.WashingtonGardener.com) and a long-time DC area gardening enthusiast. Kathy can be reached at  washingtongardener@rcn.com and welcomes your gardening questions.

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