Newtowners are fearlessly creative, close to nature homeowners and gardeners. Some build their homes on hilltops, others prefer “just a farm”’ and some are romantics with historic or castle-like homes. As much as their homes reflect their passion for the distinct and unique, they still stay up close and personal when it comes to Mother Nature. This year’s tour is one of the most exceptional ever. As a longtime Newtowner, I’m thrilled that people of such renown are opening their homes and/or gardens to share their world with others.
In order to provide a sneak preview, I ventured to several of the homes and gardens that will be featured on the tour. My first stop was a visit with artist Donald Purdy and his lovely wife Lise. Their 1968 contemporary home overlooks a gorgeous horse farm and the panorama from on top of their hill is nothing short of breath-taking. Don’t be misled by the “contemporary” description. One whole exterior wall is made of stone and the house essentially is liaison between earth and sky. Its peaks reach up to the clouds, while its stonework roots are rich and deep.
Their extensive sun-room features floor to ceiling glass walls that bring the outside in. Sculptures indoor and outdoors proudly perch on antique tables or stone walls and proclaim loud and clear, “Art thrives here.” Donald Purdy’s paintings, a celebration of American Impressionism steals attention from other prominent art works, but only momentarily until you enter the artist’s studio. There’s so much to see here that you best make sure you plan your schedule carefully. Antiques, art, and a visual art history exhibition makes this home a showcase you don’t want to miss.
From there, I headed over to John and Jane Vouros’ home. This charming home, known as the Dana-Holcombe House, is a classic New England bed and breakfast that welcomes you in from its stately front door, its flower splashed side entrance or through the trellis down the stone walk to the extensive patio and perfectly delightful gardens. The guest rooms are tastefully decorated and the public rooms are richly accented with books, antiques, and conversation pieces. The gardens are especially interesting because they are hidden away from Main Street and the famous flagpole, and though small in scale, large in stature and beauty. Wait until you see the lush Irish pink poppies that refuse to stay confined. They are absolutely precious. There’s a quaint little tool shed with an old wooden ladder that will hold you captive. It’s absolutely amazing how much garden is but a stone’s throw away from Main Street.
I also checked out Jim and Marcia Morley’s homestead. Expect to find antique gates leading to cow pastures and white picket fences that wind their way to a magnificent old apple tree. Marcia created a lovely reflection pond close to the house where lily pads abound and frogs like to leap. A fountain dominates one of the more formal gardens, while goosenecks stretch their showy plumes showing off their splendor.
Do plan on wearing comfortable shoes because you’ll want to do some extensive walking here. With more than 30 acres of pond dotted, barn accented properties, you’ll marvel at the inventiveness of this homeowner. He has a white wooden gate that swings open across a stone walk. In order to preserve both the gate and its hinges, he attached a single antique iron wheel onto the gate and voila, the gate rolls across the stone without a scratch. Be sure to check out the venerable old apple tree. If you stand under it, you just might have a religious experience. It’s like a cathedral under there. It is quite exquisite and do note the antique gates, some from old cemeteries, as well as the stunning stone benches that offer welcome rest.
Another avid gardener with acres and acres of gardens to tend is Gretchen Bauta. She and her husband Dr. Humberto Bauta have cut out a piece of paradise on their 30 plus acreage. Paths that beg you to explore lead the way to an avenue of Linden trees. The original property was rough pasture with poor soil. Since 1973, when the couple moved into their home and raised three children, they have taken a special interest in planting trees, all of which are now mature and exceptional specimens. As each of their children moved to college, each selected and planted a special tree. Christian chose a Copper Beach, Pilar a Honey Locust; and Nicolas an Atlas Cedar. One tree that I found especially delicious was the Mulberry tree that happened to be heavy with ripe fruit on the day of my visit. And an exquisite cherry tree announces visitors to the path leading to the swimming pool.
While the trees are glorious, there is one centerpiece that is even more memorable in this woodland wonderland. It’s a 17th century French gazebo once owned by Gretchen’s parents in Toronto. Humberto and Gretchen were married under it in 1970. When the Canadian house was sold, Gretchen’s father dismantled the gazebo and sent it to the Bautas as a gift.
With a passion for re-foresting the trees of Mexico, Gretchen’s great pride and joy in her garden is a weed. Believe it or not, milkweed is of utmost importance here and that’s because Gretchen loves the monarch butterfly. That beautiful butterfly only lays its eggs on milkweed, so one part of this extensive property is dedicated to milkweed. Of course, there are spacious fields everywhere, and one near a former horse barn is so beautiful that it would have enticed Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina” here. There are unique buildings and accents along deeply wooded paths. If you’ve ever seen “The Secret Garden,” then you will now know what it feels like to walk into a magical space by visiting here.
Last but certainly not least on my preview tour, I visited with Mary Stambaugh. People in town often refer to her property as the Botanical Gardens of Newtown. They aren’t exaggerating. You have to see her gardens to believe it. My first comment to her was, “This kind of garden doesn’t just happen. You must have a lifetime of gardening,” I said.
“I come from a long family line of gardeners,” she said with a smile. “When I return to my childhood home and visit my grandfather’s place, it’s very special. It’s also known as the Cincinatti Nature Center,” she said.
Well that certainly explains it because these gardens are amazing. Mary’s vision is bigger than most people can ever imagine. When she purchased her home here 38 years ago, it was nothing more than a lot of brown lawn. Through the years, she and her husband managed to transform the property. There are gardens everywhere. Some are works in progress like her Alpine Lawn, or another rock garden. This is a connoisseur of the first rank. She not only is living life “green,” but welcomes raccoons, field mice and all of nature’s creatures. Well, almost. She like many of the other gardeners on this tour have installed electric fences to keep the deer out.
“My grandfather sent me basic plantings from his woodland garden in Ohio,” she said. “He sent me seeds of Winter Aconite, Helebores, Columbine and hostas. I love garden continuity,” she said stroking a fence made from a tree taken from gardener Sydney Eddison’s property. “When I had to cut down one of my trees, I sent it to her.” This ambitious and creative woman created her own clock tower. I mean she built the four face clocks from round plastic tables. She’s as amazing as her extensive gardens. She also created a bird feeder that has a shelf underneath it to catch the seed that the birds drop. This way, the squirrels and mice get to eat, too. For her raccoon family, she likes to treat them to dog biscuits.
Be sure to enjoy the formal English garden that was once a swimming pool and you must set your eyes upon that gorgeous Korean Boxwood. “It took me three years to make that boxwood cover that side of the rock,” she said. You’ll also want to check out her bog garden, cutting garden, pond gardens, and many, many rock gardens.
I ran out of time before I could catch a glimpse of Tucker and Marilyn Frey’s house and garden, or Katherine Williams’ home. I also missed John and Dottie Evans gardens. George and Shane Miller’s garden and barn have been on the tour before and feature wonderful specimen plants. The self-guided tour will take place rain or shine. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour. For more information check out the website: www.newtownhistory.org or (203) 426- 5937.