Flowers — especially roses — are for sale everywhere, from gas stations to grocery stores to floral shops. The Pioneer Press stopped by Bachman’s Maplewood on Wednesday to ask CEO Susan Bachman West what to know about flowers ahead of this day that celebrates love,

Buying flowers for a loved one is a tradition practiced across the globe – and right here in Central Texas is no different. “It creates a lifelong memory, and that’s what’s really nice,” says Florist Hewitt co-owner Cindy Sommerkamp.

One way to simplify things is by buying a classic bunch of tulips. This is the only flower mass-grown in the United States in the winter on such a scale that you can find them at most local shops. And the majority of tulips sold to Americans are shipped by truck for relatively short distances.

The Hoogasian family has sold flowers in the city continually since the 1920s. They still fill Carlos Santana’s regular order.

It's officially Valentine's Day and of course, it's all about the flowers and there's no busier place than Watanabe Floral.