For nearly 32 years, Sunnycrest Nursery in Key Center has served the garden and planting needs of its customers on the Key Peninsula.

For almost as long, the florist shop that owners Dale and Claudia Loy built next to the nursery has served the Valentine’s Day needs of spouses who are looking for a classic – and sometimes last-minute – gift.

“Guys I don’t see the rest of the year, I see around Valentine’s Day,” Claudia Loy said. “It’s a big deal for husbands to come in and take care of this. But we try to make it a comfortable and fun experience for everyone.”

Claudia said her favorite part of the business is getting to know her customers. Sunnycrest is small, with a staff of five for Valentine’s Day that grows to eight during the spring and summer, and, as an independent florist, it serves a local population.

Most of the nursery’s deliveries are to spots on the Key Peninsula, although Sunnycrest will deliver into Gig Harbor as well.

“We really take care of our local community,” Claudia said. “That’s who we’re here for.”

She added that, when Sunnycrest started over three decades ago, after the Loys purchased an existing nursery, their business was one of the only garden centers in the region.

“The longer we stay in business, the more of these shops come and go,” Loy said. “But we’re still here.”

Because Sunnycrest is both a nursery and a florist, the shop can accommodate orders that some flower shops wouldn’t be able to complete. Valentine’s Day is second in business only to Mother’s Day, Loy said, when hanging baskets and other arrangements that require nursery plants to supplement flowers are popular items.

Mother’s Day is holiday No. 1 for a florist, Loy said, but nothing compares to Valentine’s Day in terms of its sudden rush of business. While Mother’s Day orders will often be planned further in advance, Valentine’s Day orders typically come in during the two weeks that lead up to the holiday, and often the day before or the day of.

Sunnycrest ordered flowers for Valentine’s sales months ago, in anticipation of two frenzied weeks of sales.

Claudia, who also does landscape design and consultation, said an important part of the Valentine’s rush is helping shoppers select flowers that their spouse might like more than a bouquet of a dozen red roses, although those are available, too.

“Roses are obvious,” Loy said. “But some women might rather have purple flowers, and roses aren’t purple. So we can help you. If you find out what your significant other likes, we can accommodate you.”

“But not at 3 o’clock on Thursday,” she added.

Sunnycrest’s Valentine’s deliveries will start today, the day before the holiday. Many go to local schools — bouquet deliveries to students and teachers, Claudia said.

The days before deliveries are spent filling orders that already have come in, from organized Valentine’s participants, and taking new orders from the not-so-organized.

On Thursday, when the big day arrives, Claudia said she’s hoping for good weather, for easier and more pleasant deliveries.

“That day, we’ll be ready to roll, no matter what,” she said.

Claudia said she stocks balloons, cards and other Valentine’s items in addition to flowers, to better prepare her customers to celebrate “every sweetheart in your life.” Many customers will send flowers and gifts to their parents, siblings and friends, as well as to significant others, she said.

“It’s just a day for showing that you love someone,” Claudia said.

Reporter Will Livesley-O’Neill can be reached at 253-358-4152 or by email at will.livesley-oneill@gateline.com. Follow him on Twitter, @gateway_will.