Local gardeners scurrying in recent weeks to cover early emerging plants know that arctic temps and subfreezing temps and tender blossoms don’t mix.

Now imagine trying to deliver 100s of artistic and delicate floral arrangements under such conditions on what is the mainstay holiday for your business.

And throw in predictions for unprecedented windchills and blizzard conditions.

Veteran florist Dennis Mueggenborg had worked 44 Valentine’s Days before this year, but none was as challenging as Number 45.

“I’ve never seen anything like this year is shaping up to be,” the owner of Designs by Dennis, along with his wife Tammy, said Thursday.

A combination of arctic temperatures threatening his massive Valentine’s Day inventory of flowers, plus slick conditions putting his regular staff and temporary delivery drivers at risk, plus COVID-19 quarantines reducing his available drivers was quickly turning the biggest floral holiday of the year into the biggest headache.

He managed to skate the first hurdle of getting his floral materials delivered safely last Monday, despite them being transported in an unheated truck.

And that’s no small order. Mueggenborg’s inventory list included thousands of blooms: 800 red roses, 600 assorted other colors, 200 gerbera daisies, 140 hydrangeas, 400 carnations . . . the list goes on.

The Mueggenborgs and seven designers on his staff worked nonstop assembling floral arrangements from those raw materials. Most go out as custom orders, but extras go in the refrigerator cases for drop-in purchases.

“The number of bouquets this year will be around 135-150, where in a normal year it’s closer to 200,” Mueggenborg said.

That’s all part of the usual Valentine’s Day lead-in. The tricky part this year is the delivery.

“We bag every arrangement and keep our vehicles warm,” Mueggenborg said. “Also, no surprise deliveries this year.

“We have to call ahead and make sure someone is home because it just takes a few minutes waiting on the doorstep for an arrangement to freeze in these temperatures.”

And speaking of doorsteps, that’s another danger in this kind of weather.

“From the deliveries we’ve made so far, that’s where the slick spots are,” he said.

To protect his workers from slips and falls, Mueggenborg ordered sets of strap-on ice treads for everyone’s shoes.

Then there’s the weather-and COVID-related issues that are limiting the availability of extra drivers.

“This weather is tough on everyone, and when I’ve got people who also are taking care of cattle, or quarantined due to COVID or having to attend a funeral, that’s a reminder that I’m not the one facing the toughest problems right now,” he said.

Mueggenborg is even more concerned about the record snowstorm forecast to move in Sunday and continued frigid temperatures that will follow.

Because after Valentine’s Day deliveries are over, the next busiest time for florists is the week after deliveries for all those poor saps who forgot about the holiday, or didn’t realize the symbolic value of a fresh flower arrangement

“Next week could be another nightmare,” Mueggenborg said.

For Kristy Lyn’s Flowers and Gifts, a vocational project of the Center of Family Love in Okarche, schools closed due to the weather and COVID-19 quarantines have been an issue.

“One of our big areas have been love bundles that go out to the schools,” Nellie Sanders, CFL vice presi dent of philanthropy, said. “Schools are out, so that’s one market area that has been closed to us this year.”

“Due to a significant portion of our orders usually being deivered to schools in Okarche, El Reno and Piedmont, having the schools closed has definitely had a huge impact on that,” Stefanie Cotton, CFL vocational director who oversees the flower shop, added.

“We’ve seen a significant decline in orders due to the weather — about a fourth of the order volume that we usually have.”

Nortek, which has partnered with CFL in its air filter plant and other projects, also stepped in to help rescue Valentine’s Day.

“Nortek took Valentine’s Day flower orders for all its employees,” Sanders said. “Anyone who wanted to order for spouses, loved ones or whomever could do that and then we delivered them all to Nortek, so that was a huge help.”

Cotton said customers started calling requesting earlier deliveries, due to the weather forecast, which provided an opportunity to keep delivery drivers out of the worst of the weather as well.

“We’ll have all deliveries done by Friday,” she said.

The weather also has been a challenge for CFL residents who are employed by the flower shop to make it safely to work.

Five CFL residents plus two other designers work as a team to design all the floral arrangements.

Cotton described the workday Thursday as “a great girls’ day in.”

“Flowers in general are such an expression for us. We celebrate with them and we mourn with them and we include them in so many different aspects of our lives,” Marsha Smith, CFL vice president of programs, said. “It’s such a fit for the folks who work with us.”

Deliveries involve everyone employed in CFL’s vocational programs, who divide up routes by cities.

CFL representatives and the Mueggenborgs remind Valentine’s Day shoppers that their flowers and gifts are also available after the storm has passed, for anyone who is awaiting warmer weather to celebrate with loved ones.

“We’re here anytime anyone wants to celebrate,” Cotton said.