Busy Valentine’s is a blessing for this farm hit hard by Hurricane Florence

CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY) — With Valentine’s Day just three days away, shops are filling with flowers hoping to be the right gift for your lover.

Castle Hayne farms makes about 5,000 flower bouquets on an average week but, around Valentine’s Day the farm makes about 15,000 from iris to lilies.

After Hurricane Florence set the company back a month, this busy holiday is a blessing.

“For Valentine’s, we plan three times as much as we do for a normal week,” Co-Owner Mark Hommes said.

“A florist starts planning towards the end of December and that’s when we start kicking into high gear,” Retail and Wholesale Manager Christina Cooke said .

Castle Hayne Farm is a wholesale provider of fresh cut flowers that are sold to local florists, event planners and grocery chains like Whole Foods and Publix, but after Hurricane Florence hit the farm hard, they had to stop production.

“We didn’t ship any product for close to a month,” said Hommes. “Our customers were very understanding. They said let me know when you’re back on line.”

Hommes says the roof of every greenhouse was destroyed and the sidings are still under repair but, Cooke says Valentine’s Day couldn’t have come at a better time. It is the second busiest holiday for the farm.

“We’re really happy for this holiday right now even though it’s really busy,” said Cooke.

Lilies, irises and snaps are few of the most popular flowers sold at the farm. Hommes says the rose staple cant be grown in this climate.

“Mainly Columbia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Mexico grow all the staples like roses, carnations, alstroemeria… ” said Hommes. “They have a good climate for it.”

As the big day draws closer, shipments are starting to die down. But as the start of the spring season comes closer, the farm is constantly planting.

“Everything is kind of on a system so, we constantly have product to offer,” said Hommes said.

Mother’s Day is the next big holiday the farm is prepping for.

If you are interested in getting a beautiful arrangement for your mother, the farm welcomes the public. It is located at 4415 Castle Hayne Road in Castle Hayne.