‘Thank you for being a friend’: Chilling with the Flower Lady of New Haven

Annette Walton, who you might have known till today as “The Flower Lady,” has spent all her 55 years in New Haven.

She’s the local legend who sells flowers and reads Shakespeare – here’s a glimpse into the world of a true-blue campus celebrity.

Flower Lady Annette

Where are you from?
I’ve lived all my life in New Haven—born and raised. If I go blind today, I won’t need no help ’cause I can find my way. I know every street there is in New Haven.

How do you think New Haven has changed over the past few years?
It don’t even look like New Haven like I remember it. It used to be nice and quiet. We had a lot of history here and now it’s all gone. The streets look different. The hill don’t look like it used to anymore. Everything’s changed.

Have you travelled outside of New Haven?
I’ve been to North Carolina, Charlotte. Been to Maine, New London. Not too far. But I never flew or got in a boat. I’m scared to get in them—they have too many accidents.

Why flowers?
I love flowers because flowers don’t harm you—they’re innocent. So many things are happening with people. I’ve been giving out flowers for twenty-five years. I started selling them for a dollar.

What’s the story behind that?
I got evicted out of my house so I had nowhere to go. I went to the soup kitchens: there were people in line and they looked terrible and hungry. All I need was something to take care of my personal needs and stuff and that wasn’t enough. So one day, I was asking for change and this lady took me to lunch at Yorkside and she gave me some money and I had nothing to give her. I said, “Thank you.”

And so, we went walking and then I saw some daisies and dandelions growing on the side of the street. So I picked one up and gave it to her. The lady gave me a hug. I was all dirty and nasty and stuff. And she still gave me a hug. And I think she started crying when she walked off but then she started smiling again. So I said, I should start selling flowers for a dollar.

Tell me more about your dog.
Oh, I love my baby. One of the girls at Yale—she was the daughter of a faculty member—her dog had puppies. She said she had too many dogs in the house and she asked me if I wanted one. I didn’t know it was gonna be Half-Pint in particular, but she brought him where I stay. And then when I got him, I fell in love with him. One of the professors helped me out with Half-Pint’s vet bills and his food and toys and everything. He’s playing on the green right now!

Alone?
Oh no, he can’t be by himself. Somebody took him out. I wouldn’t let him cross streets alone. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t have my baby. I love my love prize.

Apart from Half-Pint, who else is in your family?
I got five siblings and me, making six. One sister here. Two brothers—one in Virginia, one in North Carolina. One sister in Virginia and one in North Carolina. My mother is still here. She lives with my sister in New Haven—she got enough room for her.

What makes you happy?
My dog and my friends out here. I love my friends at Yale—they’re the only friends I got!

Any friends you remember in particular?
One friend at Yale—this crazy girl. She used to make paper goods. Never had a back-pack on: I never saw her with any books. She was a student though I didn’t believe it. But on graduation day, she had a cap and gown. And then I finally believed it. Now she’s a teacher at a public school.

This other student—she helped me sell my flowers, every single day. She used to wrap them up in recycled paper. She used to stay here with me and help me. “Come on, let’s get busy,” she’d say.

Before selling flowers, what did you do?
I used to do construction work all over New Haven. I loved it. But then I caught asthma and now I can’t do it. Because of the chemicals, you know, I can’t do it no more.

What message would you want to give out to Yale students through The Tab?
Thank you for being a friend!

And a piece of advice?
Stay in school as long as you can. Don’t rush to have a family till you finish your education. Don’t drop out till you finish your four years. If you’re tired of papers and tired of readings, let me tell you baby, if you want to live, here you better go back to school! You ain’t gonna make it otherwise.

And of course, be yourself. That’s all I can say, am I right, girlfriend?