Braintree Flower Shop Ready for Valentine's Day Surge

Roses on Valentine's Day are surely as recession-proof a product as they come.

Or so says Linda Divenuti, co-owner of . The store, at the corner of Washington and West streets, has kept up a similar volume of the traditional romance flower – 2,000 to 3,000 roses on V-Day – even through the last several years of economic downturn. That's up from perhaps 300 a week during regular periods, Divenuti said.

But roses are not all the flower shop offers for Valentine's Day. Gerber Daisies, in pinks, reds and yellows, are the second-most-popular flower for the holiday, Divenuti said, followed by the classic spring-is-coming tulips.

"Everybody loves tulips," she said. "It's relatively refreshing."

Valentine's Day is definitely the busiest of the year, Divenuti said, followed by Mother's Day, which features more spread-out buying, Easter and Secretary's Day. Red roses fly off the shelves, but two-toned pink and white roses are also popular.

Last week the shop had some bouquets (and Teddy Bears) ready to go, including options for significant others, mothers, grandmothers and even daughters.

Divenuti, who has been running The Braintree Flower Shop for the past six years with Kevin Carnes, said that she will custom-make arrangements right up until the last moment on Tuesday night.

"I know what everybody's wife likes," she said.