“I have rose petals at my feet every day,” said Tracy Mills, owner of Sherwood Florist in Spring Hill. “Valentine’s Day is our busiest time, and it’s a fabulous time,” she added.
Sherwood Florist is one of Hernando County’s longest-operating flower shops, and during the weeks before Valentine’s Day, Mills and her husband, Rick, are primed for the annual surge of gift-givers ordering flowers for their loved ones.
Red roses, of course, are still the favorite choice,” said Tracy. “That’s why I call it the Gentleman’s Holiday,” she said. “It’s a tradition, and most all of our clients are men who stick with the red rose as the symbol of love.” She added, “we do let them know there are thousands of other flowers that are just as gorgeous, but they trust us to have sufficient red roses for that special day.”
Sherwood Florist’s flowers are shipped from all over the world. Some come from as far away as Ecuador and Colombia, tulips from Holland, and others just a few miles away from farms in Bushnell and Spring Hill too.
“We have two weeks to get everything prepared, and we can go through 20,000 red roses in a matter of four days,” she said.
“As we get closer to Valentine’s Day, my staff and I work late, and then a little bit later, and sometimes all weekend and evenings if that’s what it takes to make sure everything is fresh and beautiful and ready to go out for delivery on the day,” she said.
Tracy employs a staff of about 18 people, including delivery drivers, for as many as 500 deliveries a day. “My staff are the key to our success,” she said. “They are fantastic coworkers, some of whom have been with me for over 20 years.”
“They are the wind beneath my wings,” she added.
Sherwood Florist flowers are delivered fresh every single day. And again, on Valentine’s Day this year, they will offer a limited $7.99 bouquet.
“They’re gone in a hot minute, so it’s first come, first served,” said Tracy. But we also have a $29.99 bouquet of a dozen roses in a box delivered.
Each year, Sherwood Florist holds a special community Open House during November, where free flowers are given away to every person who walks through the door. “Last year, over 900 people attended,” said Tracy. “It’s our way of giving back to the community.”
Tracy advises ordering early to beat the last-minute rush and ensure delivery on Valentine’s Day.
If You Go:
Sherwood Forest Florist
11060 Northcliffe Blvd.
Spring Hill, FL 34608
Phone
352.686.1662
Toll-Free: (800) 686-1669
Website
www.sherwoodflorist.com
