Photo by Dan Balmer Peninsula Clarion Debbie Morris (front) and Tonya Gilmore prepare ordered flower arrangements at Tammy's Flowers and Gifts in Soldotna Thursday. Morris runs the Candy Botique in the shop with the help of her husband Mike. The two have been married for 42 years and met in high school when she used to work at a flower shop in Oregon, Morris said.

Photo by Dan Balmer Peninsula Clarion Debbie Morris (front) and Tonya Gilmore prepare ordered flower arrangements at Tammy's Flowers and Gifts in Soldotna Thursday. Morris runs the Candy Botique in the shop with the help of her husband Mike. The two have been married for 42 years and met in high school when she used to work at a flower shop in Oregon, Morris said.

Valentine’s Day frenzy

  • By DAN BALMER
  • Thursday, February 13, 2014 9:40pm
  • News

For all those last minute shoppers, it is not too late to pick out a gift for your valentine.

Kim Mariman, owner of Tammy’s Flowers and Gifts for the last four years, said while she has already sold out 600 dozen roses, she has plenty of jewelry, candy, flowers, cards and balloons available.

Mariman said she ordered 5,000 stems in preparation for Valentine’s Day, the busiest day of the year for the shop. Four vans will make 300 deliveries in nine hours around the central peninsula Friday. With a staff of only four employees, she said she brings in more hands to handle the extra work.

“I could not have done it without the hard work from my holiday helpers,” she said. “They meticulously clean every flower and put arrangements together.”

Mariman said they probably do one arrangement a minute based on each of their preordered deliveries.

One of her designers, Debbie Morris, runs the Candy Boutique, which has an assortment of chocolates and candy, another Valentine gift staple.

Her husband Mike Morris also helps her stock the shelves. The two have been married for 42 years.

Morris said he first met his wife when she worked at flower shop in Oregon.

“She is tired of flowers and candy so she picked out four pieces of jewelry at Fred Meyer and I get to choose one for her,” he said. “So there is some surprise.”

Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.

Photo by Dan Balmer Peninsula Clarion Kim Mariman, owner of Tammy's Flowers and Gifts in Soldotna, stands in the cooler with all the preordered flower bouquets Thursday in preperation for Valentine's Day. She said she ordered 5,000 stems and has already sold 600 dozen roses. Valentine's Day is the shop's busiest day of the year.

Photo by Dan Balmer Peninsula Clarion Kim Mariman, owner of Tammy’s Flowers and Gifts in Soldotna, stands in the cooler with all the preordered flower bouquets Thursday in preperation for Valentine’s Day. She said she ordered 5,000 stems and has already sold 600 dozen roses. Valentine’s Day is the shop’s busiest day of the year.

More in News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy orders freeze on state employee hiring, travel and new regulations due to fiscal crunch

Exemptions allowed for certain occupations and “mission-critical” purposes.

Students stock rainbow trout into Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration, hosted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game near Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Celebrating the cycle of life

The annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration caps off the Salmon in the Classroom program.

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law
Homer woman sentenced for 2020 murder

Sarah Dayan was convicted in December for the murder of Keith Huss.

Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough mayor proposes mill rate decrease in $180M draft budget

The budget also follows his “balanced budget philosophy” of spending increases at or below around 2.5% year-over-year.

Kenaitze Indian Tribe chemical dependency councilor Jamie Ball performs during a candlelight vigil marking National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls at the Raven Plaza, Ggugguyni T’uh, in front of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Vigil recognizes missing and murdered Indigenous women on national awareness day

Alaska Native women are overrepresented in the populations of domestic violence and rape victims in the state.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy threatens unprecedented veto of education funds in budget unless his policy goals are met

Line-item veto could leave districts with less money for months; legality of such action is questioned

A scene from the PBS children’s series “Molly of Denali.” (WGBH Educational Foundation photo)
‘Molly of Denali’ and other PBS children’s programs on hold as Trump cancels funds

Emmy-winning Juneau writer of “Molly” says PBS told creators the series isn’t being renewed.

A few clouds disrupt the sunlight in downtown Juneau on an otherwise bright day. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alaska ranks 49th, ahead of only Louisiana, in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best States survey

State drops from 45th a year ago, led by large drops in opportunity and fiscal stability.

Most Read