• Editor's note: This article tips off the "finals" of this week's "Best of the Tri-Cities" series! Vote for your favorite florist in the poll, or score extra points in the comments section. (Score 1 point per vote, 3 points per comment.)  Deadline for "Best Florist" voting is noon Monday, Feb. 13.

They say it's bad form to overuse sports analogies, but hey, I'm a guy.

And that means I think almost exclusively in terms of sports analogies. It also means I don't have much of a clue when it comes to selecting the right floral arrangement for Valentine's Day or any other occasion, for that matter.

So, if you're like me—or even if you're not like me—this "Best of the Tri-Cities" Best Florist matchup is a match made in heaven.

As in any sport, the slate is wiped clean once you're in the playoffs. It all starts 0-0; anyone can win.

In our nominating round—which ended at noon Friday (Feb. 10)—five florists emerged as finalists. Floral Wonders was the top vote-getter, with 107. (We added two votes from the comments field because we were slow in getting Floral Wonders onto the Patch poll.) Yes, Floral Wonders literally came from nowhere to emerge as the top seed in the finals.

Here's how the voting works. Each vote in the Patch poll earns 1 point; each comment in favor of one of our nominees earns 3 points. One vote and one comment per day, per person, please.

Remember: The deadline for voting is noon on Monday, Feb. 13.

The winning vote-getter captures the title of "Best Florist in the Tri-Cities." And we'll follow up with another story on Tuesday, which (hey, guys!) also happens to be Valentine's Day.

As a reminder (and to help with your Valentine's Day shopping), here are the five finalists, along with links and phone numbers.

St. Charles Florists and Gifts, 2701 W Main St, St Charles, IL 60175, 630-443-4770

Batavia Floral & Gift Shoppe, 109 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia, IL 60510, 630-879-2068

The Pure Gardener, 502 W. State St., Geneva, IL 60134, 630-232-2766

Town & Country Gardens, 211 W. State St., Geneva, IL 60134, 630-232-6685

Floral Wonders, 310 Campbell St., Geneva, IL 60134, 630-945-6559

Let the playoffs begin. Please vote and support local businesses!