FLORISTS FILL THEIR ROOMS WITH BLOOMS FOR MOTHER'S DAY.

Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Every available work space at Simi Valley Florist was covered with buckets of flowers Friday as staff members worked frantically to prepare hundreds of arrangements to be delivered for Mother's Day.

Mother's Day - including the Saturday before - is one of the biggest events of the year for florists and candy shops, many of which hire extra staff to prepare for the rush.

``We've been gearing up for this for weeks,'' said Jeannette Rohal, owner of Simi Valley Florist. ``Every day we've been getting in huge shipments. We've been selling a lot of roses, but the big thing this year seems to be mixed spring arrangements.''

She said many customers wait until the last minute.

``For the last couple of days we've been getting calls from people who are panicked because it's too late to send gifts in the mail,'' Rohal said. ``But we're used to that happening, so for us it's routine. When they hear that they calm down a little.''

Karen Thornton, owner of Karen's Flower House in Simi Valley, said she hired 10 extra staff members, rented extra delivery vans and is working longer hours to make sure mothers get their flowers.

``It's a huge day,'' Thornton said. ``Everybody has a mother, but not everyone has a sweetheart. For me it's definitely busier than Valentine's Day.''

On Friday, Thornton opened at 8 a.m. rather than 10 a.m., and she worked into the wee hours of the morning many times last week.

``We usually end up delivering clear into the dark,'' Thornton said.

The rush also can be felt at local candy shops.

Shari Mendez, manager of See's Candies in Simi Valley, expects people will be lined up outside when she opens today. In the next few days she expects anywhere from 300 to 500 customers.

Mendez said the big-ticket item this year is a Mikasa bowl wrapped with more than a pound of chocolate.

``See's Candies has been around since 1921,'' Mendez said. ``People grew up with it. The dads and the kids know what moms out there want. It's a classic gift.''

Also, classic gifts are those that are homemade.

Lorene Sosa, owner of Fire Your Imagination, said she's also drawing a big Mother's Day crowd of children making ceramics for their mothers.

``We've got people putting hand prints on plates, vases, picture frames and coffee mugs,'' she said. ``Little tiny kids have been in this week making gifts and it's so precious. It catches a moment in time because they're not going to be that size ever again.''

Sosa said her favorites are when kids draw portraits of their families.

``We see a lot of heads with arms and legs coming out of the head,'' she said. ``They draw the whole family and they draw stick figure dogs. Those are great.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) Jeannette Rohal, owner of Simi Valley Florist, has been stocking up for weeks to have enough flowers for Mother's Day shoppers.

(2 -- 3 -- color) Kerry Eslinger gazes proudly on one of her Mother's Day arrangements at Simi Valley Florist, left. Above, while roses remain popular, mixed spring flowers are a big hit.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News