Love is in the Red Centre: Alice Springs florist swamped ahead of Valentines Day

Love is always in the air in the Red Centre – so much so, one florist is swamped ahead of Valentines Day. Read her story.

Alice Springs Phone a Flower owner Liza Jiang. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Love is in the air in the Red Centre – so much so, one florist is swamped with “thousands and thousands” of orders ahead of a big day for couples and lovers this year. 

Phone a Flower in Alice Springs is bustling behind the scenes to get orders ready ahead of Valentine’s Day this year, according to former owner Kate Ryan – who has come back to help out due to how busy the store is.

“This has been the busiest lead-up I’ve seen. I’ve never seen this many pre-orders,” she said.

Ms Ryan remained tight lipped about who may be getting the biggest order in town, but said people have spent “thousands of dollars” on some of the bouquets.

Alice Springs Phone a Flower owner Liza Jiang holds a bunch of roses. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The cost can come from additional gifts included in the bouquet, such as teddy’s, chocolates, or even a massage voucher, Ms Ryan said.

“The amount of money people spend is sometimes obscene. They do not care because it’s do with love,” she said.

Ms Ryan said flowers included in the bouquets can come from as far away as South America – such as the roses – however some also come from South Australia.

Native flower bouquets come from a grower in South Australia and will be available in time for Mother’s Day, Ms Ryan said.

Running in a florist in Central Australia isn’t without its difficulties, Ms Ryan said.

Logistics and staffing issues are at the forefront, with not enough younger people joining the floral industry, Ms Ryan said.

But despite long hours florists put in to prepare bouquets, Ms Ryan said Valentine’s Day is an important day.

“In just in general it is nice because the last four years or so have not been good and things aren’t good now around the whole world,” she said.

“It’s an important time for people to stop and be in love – whether they send flowers or whether they pick one out of their garden, I just think it’s nice time to show you care.”

Originally published as Love is in the Red Centre: Alice Springs florist swamped ahead of Valentines Day