Best Florist in Poway: Crystal Gardens Florist

After working in the industry for seven years, Jeannie Hume decided to was time to “go for the whole enchilada” and start her own business.

The owner of Crystal Gardens Florist, the winner of the Poway Premium Partners' poll for Best Florist in Poway, has now operated her own shop for nearly 28 years.

The longtime Powegian said choosing the “City in the Country” to open the flower shop was an easy one.

“It's my home town, and my whole family was here, so I had lots of support in making this happen,” she said.

But owning a shop that “requires spendable income” has been challenging.

“This is definitely a business that people have to have a reason to purchase when they are watching their spending—flowers, plants, jewelry are all the extras everyone wants, but not what everyone needs,” she said. “We are surviving by listening to the public and trying to be better prepared for them when they might be thinking of fresh flowers and plants. Needless to say, that means my staffing has changed to reflect that. Payroll becomes a big issue for a small business during these times.

"The owner generally ends up working a lot more hours than one would want.”