Louisa Westleigh of West Paris, co-owner of The Secret Garden Flower and Gift Shop, arranges flowers at the Main Street business in Norway. She and co-owner Jean Jones of West Paris opened the business Dec. 1.
NORWAY — The Secret Garden Flower and Gift shop on Main Street features not only flowers and gifts, but dozens of crafts by local artisans.
The shop was made possible through a small grant from a private source aimed at helping women in business, said owner Louisa Westleigh of West Paris, who owns the shop with her friend Jean Jones, also of West Paris.
A small room that was used in the former Bader’s Therapy office has been transformed into a colorful space where customers can do their own arrangements.
“It’s the perfect place,” Westleigh said of the room that features
shelves of ferns, roses and many other flowers. She said the room was insulated, and windows and a door were cut out. It stays at a constant 42 degrees.
The flower shop will allow people to design their own wedding flowers as well. A bride and her attendants can come to the shop and make their own arrangements, which will be kept fresh until the wedding, Westleigh said.
Eventually, local gardeners will be providing all the flowers, said Westleigh, who became interested in flower designs when she worked with her mother and sister in her mother’s flower shop in Massachusetts.
The shop, which opened Dec. 1, also features works by dozens of local artisans representing the United Maine Crafters from Norway, Oxford, Paris and vicinity. The items range from soy candles to butler chairs carved out of trees, baby quilts, hand-carved Christmas ornaments, stained glass and much.
Eventually the space will accommodate dozens of crafters, and classes will be held beginning Jan. 4.
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