Floats, flowers, food and fashion were all present at South Whidbey High School’s homecoming.

Before South Whidbey students could hit the auxiliary gym for the homecoming dance, there was lots of work to be done. And few people know that quite like the florists at Flowers by the Bay in Freeland. The day of the dance, Saturday, shop owner Tracy Schultz and Ashley Morrison were busy making corsages and boutonnieres. About 25 percent of all their homecoming flower orders are late notice, either the day before or the day of the dance. Schultz, a pro’s pro of flower arrangements, knew better and made a handful of extras — which take about 15 minutes to assemble — just in case some students were swept up in their other preparations.

“They’ll keep coming in right up until 5 o’clock,” Schultz said. “It’s amazing.”

The shop also made courtesy calls for flowers still in the store by 4 p.m. Schultz said she was happy to help first-time dance-goers through the flower process.

“For a lot of these kids, it’s their first corsage or first boutonniere,” she said.