Norton's Annabelle Florist Steeped in Art and Tradition

Suzy Widak, owner of Annabelle’s Florist and Gifts in Norton, started her life as a professional artist.

She's still painting today.

“I’ve always been drawing and doing artwork,” she said. “I decided to make it easier on myself and open a little flower shop, but then it got really difficult.”

She said she’s designed cartoons for the Boston Bruins and Red Sox, and she helped to design the Green Monster cartoon.

She originally opened the shop in Plainville about five years ago, then moved to Norton.

You may think her artist background inspires many of her floral arrangements, but she said sometimes it happens the other way around.

She said she did a floral arrangement in memory of fallen soldier Cory Shea from Mansfield.

“I think of him a lot during Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day,” she said. “In Nov. 2012, it was the fourth anniversary of his death. I was thinking of him so much because it brought back the memories I had of putting together bouquets for his service.”

Widak said this inspired her to do a painting of Shea for he and his family.

“I like to think it honored him and his family,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the flowers, I wouldn’t have thought of it.”

Widak said she’s starting a painting for Sgt. Gregory Trent, who’s memorial will was dedicated on Memorial Day. She said she also helped put together floral arrangements for the presentation. She said she’s also done a painting for Scott Brown, of which he had on his Web site.

Widak said she grew up on her family’s farms in Wrentham, Plainville and Cumberland. Her grandmother used to sell the farms’ milk to the man who eventually founded Cumberland Farms.

Widak works on floral arrangements for all types of occasions, including proms, anniversaries, birthdays and funerals. She said doing funeral arrangements bring her a somber feeling, because a family is entrusting her with something she feels is very special.

“I’m always very honored when I get to do a funeral arrangements,” she said. “I think it’s a very special thing that the families ask me to do them. I want to make it absolutely perfect every time.”

Widak said she also deals in gift and antiques. Annabelle’s is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday and is located on 108 West Main St.