By By LYDIA GRIMES Features writer
It's almost Valentine's Day, the day for chocolates and roses.
According to the National Retail Federation, Valentine's Day is the third-larges retail holiday of the year, with spending expected to reach $13.19 billion.
The National Retail Federation's survey shows that greeting cards remain the most popular Valentine's Day gift this year, with nearly two-thirds (66.9%) of consumers planning to purchase at least one card for the holiday. Nearly half of consumers will celebrate by buying candy (49.4%) or treating themselves to an evening out (47.4%). Additionally, more than half of men (57.8%) plan to buy flowers and one in five (18.1%) plan to purchase jewelry for Valentine's Day.
The Standard asked several local residents this week how often they buy flowers and if they plan to make a flower purchase for Valentine's Day.
Danny B. Joyner said, "I buy flowers four or five times a year, sometimes real ones and sometimes I get them from NDI.
Terry Clark disagreed with him on that point.
Clark said he buys flowers about three times a year, usually for special occasions.
James Aubrey Wilson said, "I don't buy flowers as a rule. My wife doesn't care about that sort of thing. She would rather have jewelry. If I gave her flowers, she would ask me if I had run out of ideas for gifts."
Tim Lowell said he buys flowers "when the mood strikes."
Jimmy Baisden buys flowers frequently.
Tony Coogle said, "I usually buy fresh cut flowers and candy for Valentine's Day."
But he also buys flowers frequently.
I buy flowers five or six times a year," Coogle said. "It helps me get out of the doghouse."