Pat Cichon awarded Yard of the Month for May

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Congratulations to Pat Cichon, whom Monticello Historic Main Street (MHM) has recognized as having the Yard of the Month for May. For the garden-filled lot she has nurtured at her home on Pearl Street, Cichon received a gift certificate from The Porch on the Green restaurant as well as a Yard of the Month sign to display.
Victoria Randle of MHM said, “There is year-round color in this immaculate, quaint yard. It's so neat and manicured. Your eye can't look anywhere without seeing something beautiful. It's a touch of southern charm. It's been cared for, and the plants are healthy.”
Indeed, in bloom right now along the front picket fence are colorful roses, salvia and Gerber daisies, which lead the eye to a meditation garden in the corner featuring a statue of St. Francises of Assisi, patron saint of many things, including ecology. Strolling around back, one finds a garden bench surrounded by lilies, iris, ferns and geraniums planted in memory of the family who once lost their home and loved ones in a tragic fire on the same lot. At the back patio, potted nasturtiums and a terra cotta bunny keep company with a towering piece of sculptural yard art created in tree form using repurposed glass bottles in glowing hues of green, rose and blue.
Upon being recognized, Cichon said, “When we put this yard in three years ago, we started with the tried and true, the things you know will grow... Then as all gardeners know, it's kind of an experiment after that. You plug things in, you move them, you cut them back... and you try. It's an ongoing effort with a lot of reward. Juan has been my helper for 10 years at least now, maybe 15. We moved from a house with an acre yard, and he's very happy to have this smaller lot that he can help me on. He takes great pride in it, as I do as well.”
Lovely yards and gardens grace the neighborhoods throughout Monticello, and MHM plans to recognize a different one each month. Be on the lookout for another Yard of the Month sign to go up in June!