Uh-Oh: You Might Not Get Your V-Day Flowers

A whole lot of East Coast florists are heartbroken today, facing the prospect of a Valentine's Day essentially ruined by yesterday's storm. One Maryland florist tells the Washington Post that the snow has grounded its delivery trucks, and that despite sending 300 orders out early on Wednesday in anticipation, deliveries would likely be backed up through Sunday. "We're now calling it Valentine's Day Weekend," the owner said. Sales were down, too, he said, because people "don't even think we can make a delivery."

The story was much the same elsewhere. Several florists told USA Today that flowers might arrive a day late, while many others sent out their orders on Wednesday. A New Jersey florist tells the Star-Ledger that no customers have objected to early deliveries, and that ultimately their bottom line would be little affected. But foot traffic, she allowed, would be down; "On days like today, people would rather stay home." One Georgia county sheriff tried to enable that behavior, by declaring on Facebook that Valentine's Day had been canceled, and that residents were exempt from getting their significant other gifts until Feb. 18. (More florist stories.)