Downtown Dacha

Nadia and Ray Hicks of Central Ave. have worked hard on their downtown “dacha”.
Dachas are country plots in Russia for city dwellers to have a place to garden and just to “get away” from the city. Ray and his Russian born wife Nadia have turned that concept around and created a dacha in the heart of downtown Middletown. It is truly a lovely sight when traveling down Central Ave. toward the downtown area. There are always things in bloom during the entire growing season. Right now there are both hardy hibiscus and Rose of Sharon of all sorts blooming throughout the yard with Physostegia (Obedient Plant), Morning Glories, roses, gorgeous fall blooming iris, purple and white phlox, dahlias, Moonflower Datura, and more.
Ray and Nadia Hicks moved into their home eight years ago. At that time, the property was run as a boarding house for about eight people, and the yard was bare with a rickety wooden fence. With determination, imagination and a vision of a “downtown dacha” the couple set to work and created a beautiful garden. To create the “bones” of the garden, the couple used the Middletown Antique Mall across the street as a resource and purchased antique iron fencing and gates to provide a “frame” for the pretty garden picture. Statues and unusual garden ornaments are artfully arranged here and there throughout the yard. A pleasant and cozy outdoor sitting area has been created between the former carriage house and horse “barn.” The couple likes to sit here and have tea and coffee. The interior of the house was also completely refurbished and redone, and the couple furnished it with antiques, again, from the Middletown Antique Mall.
Ray and Nadia are constantly exchanging smiles and glances and almost glow with happiness. She says “He plants everything and I take care of it.” They have been married for nine years. Nadia was born in a small village five hours south of Moscow. At the age of twenty, she left the village and went to work and live in St. Petersburg, formerly Leningrad. At 45, Nadia was ready for a new adventure. In the post Soviet era, she was able to obtain a work visa to work in the USA. Ray met Nadia at a friend’s home and immediately they were attracted to each other. Not too long afterwards they were married and have been together ever since, except for a time after the events of September 11, 2001. Nadia was in Russia visiting her relatives at the time and then had a great deal of trouble and red tape returning to her husband Ray. Ray worked hard to get her back home and stayed busy working in their garden to occupy the two years and seven months they were apart. Her parents still live in the village of Mourom –they are both in their eighties now. They have a garden and are still actively gardening. The couple go to visit her parents and her married daughter every year. Her daughter Julia lives in St. Petersburg, Russia with her husband Alexei and her children Olya and Ilyusha. Ray spoke of the beauty of St. Petersburg with its onion domes and beautiful buildings all set against the backdrop of the Neva River. After all their hard work and efforts that have provided a very attractive spot in the downtown area, the couple is ready to embark on a new adventure. They are selling their lovely home and are moving to Marshall Rd. There they will have a new garden and already are making plans for it. Ray and Nadia will be taking starts from this garden they have lovingly created to plant at their new home.