A love of beauty blossoms for Anne Hopkin

by PAT STOKES

During a recent conversation with friends, one suggested that if more people all over the world had better access to art, music and beauty in general, they might be less likely to participate in the kind of ghastly goings-on we're hearing about these days. Bill Will, in his wonderful poem (Chestnut Hill Local, May 13, page 4), hints at this: that art and beauty are within us, while at the same time, the beauty of the universe around us actually feeds and supports our appreciation of it (needless to say, after the essentials are provided: food, water and shelter).

I was reminded of this point today, during my interview with the vivacious owner of Anne Hopkin Flowers, Anne herself. Her philosophy: to surround yourself with beautiful things that make you happy, and conversely, that happy people do (and make) beautiful things. As to the millions of individuals who will never have an opportunity to experience such delights, we have to recognize that that's the overwhelming problem; isn't it? "No one ever said life was fair."Nevertheless, those of us who have been granted the opportunity to enjoy created beauty should do so without guilt.

Anne Hopkin Flowers, 8030 Germantown Ave., is a fascinating little jewel of a place. Anne runs it like the artist she is: no hard and fast rules; let the flowers and  the artifacts speak. She works with them creatively, imaginatively, just as she does when building an arrangement. I watched as she created one, a sweet collection of soft leaves, Queen Anne's lace, sweetheart roses, baby's breath, larger peachy pink roses and maybe a flat white daisy; one of 15 centerpieces for the "wedding of the year," a biggie for which she and her assistants were heading into an "all-nighter" for the wedding next day. Yet she gladly took time to talk to me without being the least bit frazzled.

Her story: "I grew up in a garden, my grandmother's garden, where I wasn't allowed to pick the flowers." Her love of flowers was deeply planted then, and she knew she always wanted to work with them as a lifetime occupation.

Here dreams were to begin to come true when she met a leading Elkins Park florist, Conrad, who took her on as an apprentice. Later, in 1989, she worked with a florist in Jenkintown, but Fridays found her having lunch at the French Bakery in Chestnut Hill. On her lunch breaks she would peek into the windows at Russell Medinger's flower shop, "like a little girl," wishing that store could be hers.

Eventually, she got up her courage to write a letter to the Medingers, telling of her yearning to maybe one day own such a shop, maybe that one! "They were so kind to me. They really thought, from the letter, that I was a little girl. They invited me to lunch and even had a chocolate cake. But they made it clear that they were never, never going to sell their dear shop." She pauses. "One hour later, we signed a lease." Yep, it's easy to see how her charm and persuasiveness could be fairly irresistible.

She opened there, at 8430 Germantown Ave., in 1991. Before long, however, rent changes necessitated another move, this time to the Farmers' Market in Flourtown, in which she still has an interest. At this point she began expanding her work as events coordinator, doing floral design work all over the country. (She's a real pro.) Her son-in-law is Mark Zieger, of Zieger Flowers. His store is so full of flowers, she's the original kid in the candy store when she's there.

At last, in 1994, the present location opened up. She started it as a flower boutique, but of course, now it's a full service flower shop offering everything from corsages to corporate events, and those all-important weddings.

"I love working with the other business people on the Hill," she exclaims, "including their products and skills in the plans for corporate events, large dinner parties and weddings. Night Kitchen offers scrumptious baked delights, and photographers are always in demand. The wedding season, just taking off, makes up the bulk of the shop work."

She takes a minute to dash to the workroom to check on the centerpiece activity with Jane Hooven, designer, recently returned to the fold after a brief stint in another shop. I look around at the endless variety of collectibles. Oh, what are those? Why, they're the most amazing little evening (or maybe every day) handbags you've ever seen; handmade, you bet. One of a kind. Wildly creative, covered with jewels or pieces of enamel work or feathers. Oh, a must-see! Expensive? Yes, the way a good piece of jewelry is expensive.  By Mary Frances of San Francisco. More things: unique jewelry, pillows, picture frames, table linens (really nice), dried flowers, too.

The flower fridge is full of color: yellow, white, pink, lavender. Anne's phrase for the shop: "A splash of color where the Hill begins." As I left, she handed me a bouquet of white calla lilies wrapped in a froth of orange tissue. Stunning! "We never carry stems over to the next week," she points out. "We just give them away, so our flowers are always the freshest ever."

So I said goodbye to the grin under the red baseball cap, took my calla lilies and went home, deciding not to watch the news that evening. And I didn't. Shop hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. For more information, call 215-242-6502. See you on the Avenue.