Romance sweeps the city
Romance is in the air as Palmerston North’s lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Palmerston North’s florists were flooded with last minute bouquet requests as the big day drew near.
Anthony Charsley was one beau picking out a colourful floral arrangement for his girlfriend Lucy Cramp.
The 20-year-old student said it was his second Valentine’s Day spent with his lady love.
He ordered Cramp a floral arrangement and card, and planned to take her out to dinner.
‘‘Each year you buy flowers, but you should really just do nice things throughout the year.’’
Last year, Palmerston North was named the Valentine’s Day capital of New Zealand after Google New Zealand statistics showed the city’s residents searched ‘‘Valentine’s Day’’ more than anyone else in the country.
Hokowhitu’s Flower Shop coowner Margaret Dickey said Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day were the busiest times of the year.
They had ordered in about 2000 stems of New Zealand roses and had hundreds of bundles and deliveries organised for the day.
For Dickey, the day was a very busy working day, but she said it was
nice to make others happy through flowers.
Roserie Flowers manager Jane Le Marquad said they’d had a busy few days taking orders and arranging bouquets.
‘‘It’s pretty manic. The phones have been ringing off the hook.’’
Most of the orders were the traditional dozen roses, or a beautifully boxed single rose, but mixed arrangements of flowers were increasingly popular.
Then there was the giant, 1.7-metre tall teddy bear.
Le Marquad said a customer hauled it into the shop and asked to have it delivered with a bouquet of flowers to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.
‘‘She’s going to get a fright at work. It was about as big as me.’’
Couples could also go literally head over heels for their partner at trampoline park Flip City, which plans to get into the spirit of the day.
Flip City sales manager John Seirfert said couples coming in throughout the day would go into a draw to win a free double pass.
Seirfert also planned to give out flowers or chocolate hearts for the kids to share with friends and parents. ‘‘Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be for just romantic love, it can celebrate any kind of love.’’