Florists For a Day

Since she was little, Josie Garcia has been helping her mom spread romance on Valentine's Day.

The Watsonville family is one of several that set up roadside stands for Cupid's holiday, offering everything from a dozen roses to teddy bears and chocolates to lovers.

Garcia's stand is at the corner of Husbeck and East Lake Avenues, a busy intersection with lots of easy parking. Access is key, especially now that there are so many opportunistic Valentine's Day vendors in the city. Years ago, Garcia's mom was one of the first but this year there were three other gift stands on East Lake before Garcia's pop-up tent.

Mixed bouquets start at $15. Red roses cost $30 and $35, depending on the design of the arrangement. The stand also offers live orchids and stuffed animals.

Garcia said all of the flowers come from local growers. She and her family pick them up the day before Valentine's Day, then dig in to make the super-fresh bouquets. Even Tuesday afternoon, women were arranging flowers in vases and a thick carpet of stems, petals and leaves covered the ground in the booth.

"It's a lot of work," Garcia said.

Most of the customers are men and business picks up later in the afternoon, as people get off work and are heading home, Garcia said. Her family only opens the stand twice a year—for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.