Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Garry Warner, owner of Warner's Florist Gifts Greenhouses in Hollidaysburg, waters varieties of handing baskets.

Local florists expect their sales of flowers to blossom as Mother’s Day nears.

“Mother’s Day is the biggest holiday of the year for most flower shops,” said Andrea Hammel, owner of Peterman’s Flower Shop, Juniata. “We already have lots of pre-orders, so I’m expecting a big year.”

Jeff Moist, manager at Warner’s Florist Gifts Greenhouses, Hollidaysburg, agrees, saying the holiday is a “tremendous day for us.”

“We had a bang-up Mother’s Day last year, and we are preparing for the same,” he said.

Flowers will be the gift of choice for 74% of shoppers, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

The survey also found that consumers plan to spend $274 per person, the highest in the history of the survey and up from the previous record high of $245.76 in 2022.

All together, Mother’s Day spending is expected to hit $35.7 billion this year, nearly $4 billion more than last year.

Fresh cut arrangements, porch pots and hanging baskets are popular, Hammel said.

“Winter weather was so dreary and uneventful, I think everyone is ready for some colorful blooms in their lives,” she added.

Moist said last year Warner’s found that people wanted bright colors. “We hope that trend continues,” Moist said. “Hanging baskets of impatiens and petunias are also really popular.”

Jewelry is also a popular Mother’s Day gift, and consumers are expected to spend $7.8 billion in that category, the survey found.

“Mother’s Day provides Americans with an opportunity to honor important women in their lives,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO.

Michael Kranich Jr., president of Kranich’s Jewelers, Altoona, has seen a dramatic spike in the sales of mother’s rings.

These rings can be made to include all of the children’s birthstones, he said.

“We also see many people upgrading their engagement rings around this time of year,” Kranich said.

Mike Dorman, owner of Dorman’s Jewelry, Altoona, said Mother’s Day is a big holiday for jewelry.

“This year, it’s two weeks into May, so I think that will help with the earlier ads being run,” he said.

It also gives people time to make the gift personal, he said, such as a mother’s ring or an engraved item.

“You always have birthstone jewelry and, of course, diamonds are always a popular gift,” Dorman said.

“We expect sales to be brisk,” Kranich said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.