American Airlines' pilot dispute threatened to wilt business for some local florists on Valentine's Day.

Many florists, who have their flowers brought to the Island on flights from the US, started the week not knowing if they would be able to fulfil the huge demand for roses and other floral arrangements for this weekend.

But thanks to friendly competitors, the green thumb experts were able to satisfy most of their customers.

Gardine Gibbons, of Gardine's Flowers`n'Things at Shelly Bay said: "We've been experiencing problems. It can be traumatic when you expect flowers in and don't get them.'' Mrs. Gibbons was forced to make last-minute alternative arrangements to ensure that she did not disappoint any of her customers.

"We finally got ours in on Delta and Continental flights,'' she said. She added that she would have no problem in meeting the large demand for roses and carnations.

But it was The Flower Shop on Reid Street which had the saddest Valentine tale to tell.

"We've been trying to get hold of our flowers all week,'' said owner Mary Page.

When the flowers still had not arrived by Thursday lunchtime she sent her son on a Delta Air Lines flight to the US to collect the flowers himself in a bid not to disappoint her customers.

Unfortunately the flowers were lost en route and never arrived in Bermuda.

"We don't know where they've gone,'' Mrs. Page stated. "I'm having to phone up the customers who placed orders and ask them to make other arrangements.'' Those florists who receive their flowers through other sources, either via the UK or on different US carriers such as Delta, have entered into the spirit of the occasion by helping out their more unfortunate competitors.

"A couple of other shops have phoned up asking to buy flowers from us and we were pleased to be able to help them'' said Julie Mayor, owner of Just Roses in Paget. "We've all experienced shortages and it's not fun.'' Several florists by-passed the problem altogether by ordering their flowers in from the UK.

"We got our roses in on a British Airways flight,'' said Margie Stearns at Bermuda Florist in Devonshire. "It's always hectic at this time of year so we got ours in early.''