Hy-Vee employee Nima Khoshsabegheh, left, makes Valentine’s deliveries Friday. His first afternoon delivery was to Marci Ramsay, who works at Douglas County Child Development Association, 935 Iowa.

Roses are red; violets are blue. Cards, candy, roses; Lawrence businesses thank you.

For many stores, Valentine’s Day and the day prior mark the busiest days of the year. But this year, business owners didn’t quite know what to expect.

“It’s been pretty crazy,” said Cary Engle, of Englewood Florist, 1101 Mass. “It’s broken loose and we’ve had people in here all day long.”

About a dozen Owens Flower Shop workers had staying out of each other’s way down to an art Friday, as they rushed around to make flower arrangements for Lawrence lovers.

That’s where workers were expected to be hard at work past midnight Friday, preparing more than 400 floral arrangements for delivery.

Meanwhile, men poured in the door of the store, 846 Ind., as clerks helped them find something to please their sweeties.

“It’s hard, it really is,” said Henry Green, a customer. “A lot of decisions to make.”

Outside the store, members of Lawrence Habitat WomenBuild came to and from the shop to deliver an additional 200 floral arrangements Friday. The store is donating $4.50 from each delivery to the group, which is trying to raise money to build a new house.

“Everybody’s happy to get flowers on Valentine’s Day,” said Sarah Merriman, a WomenBuild board member. “Everybody’s got big smiles and just happy to see us coming in.”

Engle said he didn’t know how busy Lawrence florists would be this year, with the holiday falling on a Saturday, tight economic times and two flower shops in the city closing in the past year. But, business at Englewood and Owens was booming Friday.

“Even with the economy being down and people spending a little less, they still like to do things for their spouse, their loved ones, and send them something to express that love,” said Bill Reynolds, of Owens.

Space was also hard to come by Friday at Ricetta Artisan Chocolates, as owner Cheryl Wetherington juggled dipping strawberries in chocolate with tending to waves of shoppers.

“Chocolate-dipped strawberries are our biggest seller for today and tomorrow,” she said.

The stores said they’ll be hard at work all day Saturday.

“We always have the last-minute walk-ins that forget that it’s Valentine’s Day until the day of,” said Cheryl Wetherington, of Ricetta, 3115 W. Sixth, Suite F.