THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270253
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Coastal Journal
SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
Many who never had the good fortune of knowing Leo E. Ullman Jr. had the pleasure of knowing his garden, a North End landmark between 86th and 87th streets.
In spring raised beds, all in full view of Atlantic Avenue, were a mass of blooming bulbs. Lots of bright red tulips stood out in all their brilliance against a white narcissus foreground.
In summer, no motorist could miss the wooden fence along Atlantic Avenue lined for about the whole block with orange and lemon yellow day lilies and the raised beds which then were host to zinnias and marigolds in all their hot summer colors. Vegetables with colorful blooms and odd shapes thrived in Ullman's beds, too.
Azaleas, hydrangeas and crape myrtles added color to each season while pink and yellow roses spanned the seasons. For decades, Ullman's yard has been a treat for every Atlantic Avenue passerby.
On a warm fall day a little over a week ago, while working in his garden, Ullman passed away. He was 81. ``He died where he wanted to be, in his garden with his flowers,'' said his good friend Harry Pincus.
``Everyone called him `L.E.,' '' Pincus added. ``He was a dear man.''
To motorists, the garden was an anonymous beauty. But to nearby residents, it was part of the fabric of the neighborhood. Ullman taught Pincus how to garden after Pincus moved in next door more than 40 years ago. The raised beds in Pincus' garden are a testament to his friendship. The day lilies in Barbara Chegin's yard across the street are, too.
``All of us have them,'' she said, ``all from L.E.'s yard.''
Fresh vegetables were also a part of being Ullman's neighbor. ``He'd walk up and down the street carrying his vegetables to friends,'' Chegin said. ``Whenever we came home from wherever we had been, there'd be tomatoes and cucumbers on the porch.''
Ullman was actually a resident of Richmond where he worked in the produce business until his retirement many years ago. Never married, he and his two sisters, who also are deceased, spent all summer at their Virginia Beach home as well as a good part of the spring and fall, Pincus said.
``He spent as much time here as he could, because he could raise his plants, wear T-shirts, old trousers and old shoes,'' Pincus said. ``He could be himself.''
Pincus and other neighbors will remember Ullman for many things other than his garden - the opera that boomed out from his radio as he worked in the yard, his penchant for collecting aluminum cans and his talent for building things.
When Pincus' children were young and one was still in a baby carriage, Ullman built the walkway over the 87th Street dunes to the beach for them. It was probably the first dune walk in Virginia Beach, Pincus said. Chegin particularly remembers the 80th birthday party that Ullman threw for himself at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club.
He invited all his local neighbors and friends and their children, along with family including lots of little nieces and nephews from out of town. Chegin, whose triplets were 4 at the time, worried about the chaos that little ones might cause at a place like the Cavalier.
``But it was priceless,'' Chegin said. ``He had silver trays with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on them. The buffet table had little pizzas among the other food and the birthday cake was a smorgasbord of ice cream sundaes!''
But Ullman's garden was pleasure for all of us. And regardless of what happens to the garden now that he is gone, it will live on in paints and pastels because he also shared his flowers with artists like Suzanne Stevens.
For more than 10 years, Stevens has painted there herself and taken her landscape painting classes to Ullman's garden. ``I love the feeling of it, the colors,'' Stevens said. ``Something was always in bloom. There was always color, something lovely to draw.''
Stevens said she and her students were welcome in the garden at any time. She didn't have to call ahead or even alert him to their presence. ``He had a very generous spirit,'' she said.
Just a few weeks ago, Ullman told Stevens that he had traveled all over the globe and he thought Virginia Beach was the most beautiful beach in the world.
L.E. Ullman Jr. gave more than his share of beauty back to us, too.
P.S. THE ANNUAL BIRD SEED SALE of the Cape Henry Audubon Society will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, at Carey's Farmers Market, 5651 Virginia Beach Blvd., just over the Norfolk Line. Sunflower seed, thistle, gourmet mix and suet cakes will be available. Carey's will be have a 15 percent off sale on bird feeders that day, too. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by\ MARY REID BARROW
For decades, L.E. Ullman Jr.'s yard has been a treat for Atlantic
Avenue passerby. At age 81, he died while working in his garden a
little more than week ago.
by CNB