Scott Bradley came all the way from East Norwalk to visit the nursery and greenhouse of Dan and Elaine Douglas - married 50 years this June - but that's hardly the farthest anyone's traveled to visit the Douglas farm.
"People come from Long Island, from Maine," Elaine said. "I know there was one instance of someone with a corporate jet flying my tomatoes out to Colorado."
The distance doesn't surprise Bradley.
"This is the best place to get fresh vegetable plants," he said. "These are really healthy plants and they grow great."
On Monday, Elaine was set up in her front yard, hand-cultivated plants spread out underneath roughly a dozen sun umbrellas. For the 29th year, she opened up shop in her front yard and will sell her plants to about four weeks or until she runs out.
"My grandmother used to own this property and the turnabout down there," Elaine said. "She use to sell gas, ice cream, flowers. When she gave it up, she continued selling flowers and berries. We sold raspberries and blackberries to restaurants around town."
Elaine's carried on the tradition ever since.
When Dan retired from systems managing, the pair dedicated themselves fully to the nursery endeavor. Every year, almost immediately following the completion of her sale period, Elaine said they begin planning for the next year's crops, cultivating new soil and plants.
"It was a hobby that grew out of hand," Dan said. "I retired, but I became her labor. Now it's almost bigger than the two of us can handle."
Those interested in visiting the Douglas Nursery and Greenhouse can find Elaine out front for the next few weeks at 535 Main Street between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
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