Date: Fri 13-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Elle-Monroe-garden-Main-St

Full Text:

THE GIFT OF GARDEN FLOWERS: A MAIN STREET RENTER ENLIVENS PUBLIC THOROUGHFARE

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

The white house next to the General Store looks like needs some tender loving

care; its backyard also seemed forgotten until Elle Monroe rented the house in

May of 1995 and slowly began to build a large colorful garden.

"It's kind of a thoroughfare back here," she said, explaining that many people

pass by on their way to Newtown Youth Services, the Congregational Church

office, or to the lot behind Newtown Savings Bank. "It makes me feel really

good - kind of like a community thing. And people feel good when they see

flowers out there."

Elle grew up on Nettleton Avenue and could walk to the library and the movies.

She said her dream has been to live on Main Street because it is such a

special location. "The noise doesn't bother me. There is something really

wonderful about waking up at five in the morning [and getting] the New York

Times at the General Store," she said. "The parade goes right by here."

Elle, a special education teacher at Newtown High School, was enamoured with

the old house she rented, and immediately saw possiblities for a garden. That

first summer, she "sculpted the first layer," planted flowers, and tried to

cultivate what was already there - which was not much, she said. Mint had

taken over most of that section, but she exposed some lungwort and periwinkle.

"There is a cement slate that runs underneath [that top area], so I had to put

things in that didn't grow too deeply," said Elle. When she had moved from her

home in Sandy Hook to Main Street, she brought iris, hosta and some other

perennials, which she planted the first year.

Early this summer she cleared the lower right hand "quadrant" and whittled

away at the lower left side until the entire area was free of roots and weeds.

Then she bartered with a Bethel friend, Jack, helping him clear his extensive

gardens in exchange for a dozen varieties of perennials.

She has added many annuals - "because they're cheapest" - to fill in the

garden. Although the shadow of fall is approaching, Elle's garden is ablaze

with blossoms of varying shades of yellow, pink, orange, white, lavendar, red,

and blue. Her plantings include marigolds, snapdragons, petunias, zinnias,,

lamb's ear, alyssum, violets, shasta daisies, liatris, monardra, thyme, basil,

oregano, marjoram, and portulaca. Her son started some cosmos from seed and

surprised her for Mother's Day this year.

"It's really a lot of work," she said. "I like to it. You live in Newtown and

I think you should do things for people."

Staff members of Newtown Youth Services have been fascinated by the evolution

of the garden, which they can view from the palladian window at the end of the

hall. Clients like to sit near the window and enjoy the view, said Anita

Arnold of NYS.

"Elle makes it a joy to come to work everyday," said Dolores Lussier, the

Congregational Church secretary. "This is a neat thing. She keeps adding to

it, and adding to it."

What suprises many of her neighbors is that the gardener continues to work so

hard at a garden that may not exist next year. The Newtown Savings Bank has

purchased the property and plans to renovate the house into commercial space,

said Elle.

"It's going to be sad when we have to leave here," she said. "I wonder what's

going to happen to the back. I thought of hiring myself on as a gardener next

year."

Elle has lived in Newtown for 30 years. She admires many beautiful gardens in

the area, and knows her plantings could mature into an even prettier display.

"I really love this town," said Elle. "If it can make people happy then you do

it. That's what living in a small town is all about."