Nicknamed “April Flowers” or “Flower Girl” by her clients, April Thorp is spreading more than just love with her new open-air flower shop on the boardwalk called Spreading the Love PB. She believes that everyone has love in them; her mission is to bring it to the surface, in part with flowers and floral arrangements.
Thorp grew up on a farm in upstate New York. Her dad grew flowers, and when a local woman in her town of New Woodstock taught she and her sister flower arranging, she was hooked. Thorp got a degree in something called ornamental horticulture floriculture merchandising and worked for a New York florist for seven years before relocating in California to follow her two passions: flowers and running. “In New York, there’s lots of snow. In San Diego, I can run outside and play with flowers,” she said. Her favorite run is the 100-miler in the hills or mountains. She says it’s a way for her to connect with nature and to ground herself.
But back to the flowers. Thorp credits her former boss, Kim Kittinger, of Impulsive Flowers, and Peter Dingsdale, owner of property Pacific Sands Motel, with her ability to strike out on her own. Kittinger donated supplies when Impulsive moved to Mammoth; Dingsdale allowed Thorp to set up shop outside the Pacific Sands Motel. Being a former tenant, Thorp was the perfect choice when Dingsdale wanted to get some color outside his quirky beachfront apartment building. Now, flowers and her original artwork adorn the building’s exterior.
Thorp has an infectious smile and kind words for everyone who walks by her tiny storefront. “Thanks for looking at the flowers!” or “Have a beautiful day” is her response to her store’s admirers. She recalled that a mentor of hers once said that if a day ever passed that a flower “doesn’t take your breath away,” then it’s time to get out. “Every day, even when it’s busy-busy like on Valentine’s Day, I’ll stop and look down at what I have in my hands and I remember that advice,” Thorp said.
When asked how long she plans to stay, it’s obvious she’s here to stay.
“There’s something about the community of Pacific Beach that preserves one’s youth and really brings out the goodness in people. I love it here.” Spreading the Love PB Where: 4449 Ocean Blvd. (where Hornblend Street ends at the boardwalk)?in Pacific Beach. Hours: 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, closed Mondays. Info: (858) 263-8814 or
spreadingthelovepb.handcraftedweb.com.
