Fleurs de Lisa - Valentine Flowers

Flowers - a Valentine’s Day staple. But Fleurs de Lisa on Toll Gavel is keen that people shouldn’t just automatically choose roses for their loved one this Valentine’s Day.

Roses are a symbol of love, but that doesn’t mean that other flowers don’t also show how much you care. Reds and pinks are always popular at this time of year and Fleurs de Lisa offers a big mix of designs to choose from, with Valentine’s Day in mind.

Lisa Barrow, who owns and runs the shop, said: “Often it is men who come in and don’t really know what they want. By having some ready-made designs for them to choose from it makes it easier for them. The younger ones still often go for roses, and there is nothing wrong with that, but why not try gerberas? We do an excellent single gerbera wrap in an oasis, which is a really bright colour and not very expensive.

“Popular arrangements include hand-tied bunches which are arranged in boxes in water, or vase arrangements. Our small cubes are very popular too. We can attach hearts to all our arrangements, to make more of them for Valentine’s Day. Or people can buy some hearts off us and create their own designs. We are very happy to help them with what they want to do.

“But, by having a list of Valentine’s ideas it makes what is obviously a peak period for us much more easily manageable, because we can buy in the stock to create those specific arrangements. Plus, if it is there, our customers can see it, so they don’t need to imagine what it will look like. They can choose one which they like the look of.

“Flowers are very romantic - it is what people do, it is traditional. And people don’t have to spend a fortune on flowers. Something like our single gerberas are just £4.50, but there will be people who want to spend more. We had one customer who spent £200 just on roses. We have something for everyone and for everyone’s budget.

“It can be a mix of anything; spring flowers are beginning to bloom. Lilies are popular, tulips are my favourite, and last year we sold more gerberas than we did roses. We pride ourselves on the colour matches that we put together. We like to push boundaries and clash it up a little bit. People often say that they know when they have received one of our bouquets because it is so vivid and bright.

“You wouldn’t think it, but pinks, oranges and yellows work really well if arranged properly. You can pick one type of flower and arrange others around it, or have an arrangement of just that species. Whatever works for you.”

Flowers, like love, often don’t last. But, Lisa has tips for making the flowers, at least, survive for as long as possible.

“It depends on the arrangement. If you have flowers in an oasis, that needs to be topped up with water every couple of days and kept somewhere that isn’t too warm. The same goes for the flowers arranged in a box. If you get a bunch of flowers, their ends need to be re-cut before going into a vase, and you need to use the right type of flower food to make them last longer.”

So, before you buy a dozen roses and be done with it this Valentine’s Day, why not see what your florist can offer you? You may be surprised at what they can do to make your bouquet as special as the person for whom it is intended.