Tulsa Flower Shop Bustling In Valentine's Day Rush

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, you think chocolate, cards, maybe even dinner -- but more than that -- many think flowers.

And flower shops know it. They prepare way ahead to make sure they can meet the demand.

Mary Murray's Flowers in midtown is bursting at the seams this weekend, sending out arrangements just as fast as they get the orders.

Joel Klamm is buying flowers for loved ones, like so many this time of year.

"I don't like flowers, they die, it's just, I'm that guy, but she really likes them,” Klamm said.

In fact, so many people like them, this typically is the shop’s busiest holiday.

"It's about 10 percent of our annual sales… Mothers Day is the only one that's close to that,” Nicki Argo said.

And they have to be prepared for anything.

The orders start pouring in a week ahead of time, as people try to get flowers delivered before the weekend.

The shop typically gets custom orders, but they also have to be ready for shoppers like Missy Jackson.

“I am a last-minute gift buyer, like all the time,” Jackson said. “Christmas, I'm shopping on Christmas Eve, so I walked in here and bought this.”

The shop is so busy this year, that owner Argo hired an additional 15 temporary employees to handle the workload.

Mary Murray’s has been in Tulsa for more than 50 years and is known for its quality of service.

“We hand deliver it; we design it specifically for them,” Argo said. “It's a custom design for them, and so I think that's special."

By Saturday morning, the shop has sold more than 1,200 arrangements and counting.

It leaves no time to stop and smell the roses.

“A lot of last-minute guys and we'll be here ready,” Argo said.