In addition to determining the price of roses and other flowers, lining up extra help to make floral arrangements or deliver flowers, and wondering if the recession is going to hurt their Valentine's Day business, florists have another concern this year.

And that's the fact that Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday.

"We're not sure how it's going to work out," said Carol Rose, owner of Amanda's Flowers on St. Michael's Drive. "But we're anticipating Saturday and Sunday will be busy, and we're going to be open."

Friday could also be busy, as that will be the last workday before Valentine's Day, and a workday is when a lot of men like to buy their loved ones roses, lilies or other flowers and have them sent to the women's offices, Rose said.

"That's apparently to the let the world know they have someone," she said.

To give her customers an additional choice and save them an extra trip, Rose will also be selling candy made by local candymaker Señor Murphy.

"I'm a member of the Santa Fe Alliance," Rose said. "Wherever possible I like to patronize other local businesses and help each other."

Jim Black, owner of Barton's Flowers at St. Michael's Drive and Llano Street, said, "We see a good Valentine's Day coming. The orders are coming in, and we are expecting a good day just like it was last year. It's one of the biggest times of the year for us."

On top of that, "we will be selling our roses for the same price as last year," he said, which is $79.95 for a dozen red roses, he said.

As for opening Sunday for Valentine's, Black has no intention doing that, even if he might miss a few sales.

"We believe Sunday is the Lord's day," he said. "We don't open that day. We believe we will have big days on Friday and Saturday."

Fred Palmer, formerly the "Fred" in the name of a local florist shop known as Fred's Famous Flowers, now owns a floral shop called Artichokes and Pomegranates in the Santa Fe Design Center.

"Valentine's Day is a busy day, but the wholesalers have raised their prices so much I don't plan on making any money," Palmer said. "They charge double the price of roses because they know they can."

To cope with the high price of roses, $75 or more for a dozen red roses, Palmer recommends to his customers instead a bouquet of tulips and daisies or another mixed arrangement.

"It's only the die-hards who have to have a dozen red roses," he said.

With Valentine's Day on a Sunday, "it makes a big difference," Palmer said. "A lot of ladies like to get flowers at work." "If it's not a work day, they can't get their flowers. So I'm encouraging men to send the flowers on Friday."

Jennifer Peters, owner of Flores de Santa Fe on Cerrillos Road started her florist business nine years ago and carefully watches the price of roses this time of year.

"The key figure for a privately owned flower shop is what stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods charge for roses," she said. "And if there's a freeze this week, it will send the prices up."

Peters is also worried that people might not spend as much this year, no matter the cost, because of the weak economy and high rate of unemployment.

Even if people don't buy from her, she wants them to go with another local florist. "That helps support the community and local business and the people who work for us."

As for Sunday, "I will stay open if the demand is there," Peters said. "Otherwise, I won't open."