Meet The Owner of Trillium

Patch wants to get to know the owner of Trillium, a long-standing florist in Gladwyne. Get to know the owner below.

Name: Wally Heppenstall

Owner of: Trillium

Year Established: 1982

Hometown: Gladwyne

Schooling: Gladwyne Elementary School, Welsh Valley Middle School, Harriton High School, College of Worcester, design school in Cleveland.

Favorite Flowers: "We're prone to anything purple. We're purple people."

Least Favorite Flowers: I don't really have one but I guess Flowers Direct-styled arrangements kind of set a bad standard with florists.

Signature Flowers: Trillium was awarded the Best Unique Arrangements in 2008 by Main Line Media News. Some of their most popular unique arrangements are their orchid plants and by "dressing them up" with mosses, branches, and tied with their signature "ribbon knot (not your traditional bow)."

Craziest Arrangement: There have been a number of elaborate arrangements but what sticks out is one that involved a replica of the Eiffel Tower with anemonies and a cheese board and fireworks.

Why did you get into the business? 

I've always enjoyed flowers. I used to watch my grandma work on her flowers and I loved working in the garden. It was kind of in my blood.

What's the best part of your job?

The satisfaction of the pleasure it gives people. This is who we are, this is what we do. We're here to represent the community. Flowers are our passion. Even on a lousy, cold day everything is always so nice inside when you're surrounded by flowers.

What do you like about the area?

It's the loyalty from our clientele. We know most of our customers on a first-name basis. Being in the industry, we've seen births, sweet 16's, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, and funerals—some of those kids we did flowers for we're now doing for their children. It's a cycle. Also, we're part of the civic association. We try to play nice in the sandbox. We have each other's backs here.

Plug: Customers can bring in their favorite containers and vases and Trillium will design an arrangement for your particular house party, dining table centerpiece, and more. They also deliver all their flowers themselves and are not part of a delivery pool. Heppenstall also makes his own hand-blown vases which are for sale in the shop.