BELLFONTE — With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, romance is in full bloom at A Flower Basket, a longtime flower shop that owner Susan Munnell describes as a “hidden gem” tucked just off the beaten path in Bellefonte.
“This building has been a florist (shop) for 70 or 80 years,” Munnell said. “We bought it eight years ago in September from Faith Miller. We expanded things a bit. Now we have the florist in the back and a gift shop in the front.”
That expansion has turned A Flower Basket into a one-stop shop for Valentine’s Day shoppers, offering not only floral arrangements, but also greeting cards, candy, balloons, stuffed animals and candles.
“You don’t have to run from store to store,” Munnell said. “We have it all.”
Valentine’s Day remains one of the busiest times of the year for the shop and roses remain the king of flowers to celebrate the holiday. According to Munnell, classic dozen-rose arrangements continue to be popular, but customers are increasingly opting for larger displays.
“People are buying more and more larger arrangements — two dozen, three dozen — especially for special events like Valentine’s Day,” she said. “But the basic dozen roses are always popular.”
For those looking beyond traditional roses, A Flower Basket offers a wide variety of alternatives. Carnations remain a favorite, especially for customers seeking a more budget-friendly option or who simply prefer something different from the classic rose.
“Some people don’t like roses at all, or they don’t want to spend the money on roses,” Munnell said. “They’ll do carnations and they feel like they can do more with that.”
Mixed arrangements featuring carnations, daisies and alstroemeria are also common. Alstroemeria, Munnell noted, is a versatile flower that pairs well with both roses and carnations and comes in a wide range of colors.
Customization is a major part of the shop’s approach, especially around Valentine’s Day. Munnell said customers often call with specific colors or flower preferences, while others rely entirely on the staff’s creativity.
“Some people say, ‘I have no idea about ordering flowers. What would you suggest?’” she said. “And some people just say, ‘You’re the professional. Come up with something.’ We love that, because then we can be as creative as we want.”
Munnell encourages customers to order early to ensure the best selection, especially as Valentine’s Day approaches.
“The earlier the better,” she said. “As we get closer, there are things we run out of.”
This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, and A Flower Basket will extend its hours, staying open until 5 p.m. instead of its usual noon closing time.
Munnell also offered simple tips to help arrangements last longer, including changing vase water every two to three days with fresh warm water, trimming stems slightly and keeping flowers away from extreme cold.
“Never leave them in your car in this weather,” she said.
Above all, Munnell stressed the importance of supporting local florists.
“Please call your local florist,” she said, warning against third-party websites that often take large commissions and fail to deliver. “The florist that you call cares,” she said. “Especially at Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to get swept up in a company that’s not real or doesn’t care about you.”
That care has not gone unnoticed. A Flower Basket has been named Best of State College’s Best Florist, earned Centre County Favorites’ florist and received a gold award for customer service.
“That’s the most important thing to me,” Munnell said. “Customer service.”
For more information and to order, visit them at 633 E. Howard St. in Bellefonte, online at www.aflowerbasket.net or call (814) 355-4786.
