Always planning further improvements, he often experimented in growing new plants. In 1947, shortly before retirement, Lay bought  in Lyme, Connecticut, near Selden Creek, where he spent time with his wife and family during the summers.
His dedication to improvement led him to experiment with growing new plants.  In 1947, before retiring, Lay purchased a home near Selden Creek in Lyme, Connecticut, where he spent summers with his family.