Florist Proves to Be a Good Neighbor for 27 Years

Last Thursday, Jeannie Hume celebrated 27 years in business and, according to employee Chris Tupper, it was just another day at Crystal Gardens Florist. But she says they did get a promise from a customer whose wedding anniversary falls on the same date.

“He said, ‘I’ll tell you what. I’m going to mark this on my calendar and in three years I’m going to go to Stater Brothers and get you a cake,’ ” Tupper recalled.

For Hume, a Poway High School alum who later majored in ornamental horticulture, the most memorable part about last week was Good Neighbor Day, a tradition held the Wednesday after the Poway Parade. They gave away 1,000 roses in a record-breaking one hour instead of the usual three.

“We give people a dozen roses and they’re supposed to spread a little sunshine to friends, neighbors, people at work,” Hume said.

This year, Hume heard a heart-warming story from someone they had given roses to. This woman and her coworkers had been dithering about who to give their remaining flowers to and decided to knock on a neighbor-lady’s door. When the woman answered, her face turned stark white.

“She had just said a prayer to St. Therese—the saint of flowers—and said, ‘I need a sign that I’m doing the right thing. Send me a flower,’ ” Hume said. “Like the woman said, you just never know who you’re going to help on any given day. That makes it all worthwhile.”