Flower Power at The Hill

Before moving to The Hill with her husband in 2024 from their home in Haverford, Pennsylvania, Mary Lou Burke had adopted floral arranging as a hobby. She discovered the art of floral arrangements when she and her husband, Frank, were living in Boston and had started taking gardening classes.

“I competed in the Boston Flower Show and different fairs,” said Mary Lou. “One of my favorite experiences was called ‘Art in Bloom’ at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. We had to interpret different pieces of art in floral arrangements. It was very challenging, but so much fun.”

With all the supplies Mary Lou had accumulated over the years—foam, oasis, containers, and books—she knew that she wouldn’t have the space in her new home at The Hill to take it all with her. She decided to donate some of her supplies to the event staff, which is how she learned about The Hill’s Flower Power Committee.

The Flower Power Committee consists of about 10 women, all with varied experience and talents in floral arranging. The group meets regularly to work on new flower arrangement ideas that are then distributed in the Oakley Dining Room at the Dixon Health Center.

“Some girls are avid gardeners, some are into design, and others produce weekly arrangements for their places of worship, so we all bring a different talent to the table,” Mary Lou said. “It’s very collaborative and creative.”

The group aims to make unexpected arrangements that will delight the viewer. They’ve done underwater designs, beach-themed arrangements that were crafted after receiving a donation from a resident of miniature figures made of small seashells, and have created “ice cream sundaes” out of white carnations.

“Someone had donated beautiful wooden elephants to The Treasure Chest here,” Mary Lou said. “I bought them and had a resident cut wooden blocks in the wood shop to help elevate them out of the water. We covered the blocks with moss and then added fresh water around it along with floral designs to make it look like a watering hole for the elephant.”

While creativity is at the forefront of all that they do, Mary Lou also stressed the importance of understanding the mechanics behind the craft.

“It’s a combination of structure—using the right materials to hold things in place—and creativity,” she said. “For a design to work, you have to have a balance and understanding of both.”

“They told me about the committee, which had been lying dormant before we moved in. It was a great opportunity to bring the committee back, and it allowed me to meet such wonderful women as a new resident.”

And for those who show up with more of one talent than another, the group loves to share their knowledge and help others pick up new skills to hone their talents.

“We’re a very welcoming group. Everyone who comes is focused on learning and growing together. It’s all very positive.”