As Mother’s Day nears, Bend flower shop feels effects of COVID-19

Fewer flowers available, and fewer delivery drivers needed

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Mother's Day weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for flower shops. And running out of the flowers most in demand is never a good thing, at any time of year.

Donner Flower Shop in Bend said it sold out all of their Mother's Day flowers earlier this week. which owner Doris Dilday partly attributes to COVID-19.

“This time around, our flower accessibility was a little bit more difficult," Dilday said Friday, "because wholesalers in Portland were closed for a time. We did get some shipments in, but not our normal availability.”

Dilday added that her staff has also taken a temporary hit.

“I do usually hire temporary help around the holidays but this year, I did not,” she said.

For example, Dilday usually has about 10 holiday delivery drivers but this season, Dilday only has about four.