Local florists are already putting in long hours in advance of Valentine’s Day.

News 12 Connecticut's Alexa Farrell talked with one local florist who overcame a huge obstacle to be able to keep his business in bloom.

It's business as usual at Licari's Floral Designs, where the storeowner JP Licari prepares for the shop's second busiest day of the year. It’s a far cry from four years ago when he was almost lost everything. A fire in 2015 destroyed his former shop and forced him to relocate.

"It was very devastating because it had happened right around the holiday time,” says Licari.

This year, the store’s bottom line is being threatened by another fire – though this one is thousands of miles away.

"It's hard to get the flowers that we need, especially with the bad weather and the fires out in California,” says JP. “A few of the largest growers have been destroyed.”

But Licari's is still filling orders and making deliveries. They say to preorder if you plan on walking through the door with a bouquet on Valentine’s Day.

“This way you will be guaranteed to get the arrangement that you have asked for,” says Licari.