A passion for gardening and strength from God has inspired two women who are both 90 years old and residents at Eden Glen Retirement Village in Jeffreys Bay, to beautify their surroundings with an assortment of plants and ornaments at their respective gardens.
Judy Lategan, who celebrated her 90th birthday last month, said before moving to Eden Glen 16 years ago, she ensured that each house she owned had a beautiful garden, which she regularly maintained.
In 2017, when she moved to the newly built Protea Block, a section in the retirement village with bachelor rooms, the area was filled with tall trees and overgrown grass.
While Lategan waited for the area to be cleared, she envisioned a beautiful garden filled with a variety of plants, stones, and various decorative items.
She then decided to draw a picture of the garden she had envisioned and began accumulating the items she needed which were mostly bought with money from her own pocket with some contributions from the residents at the retirement village.
Lategan who has three children, two of whom have passed on, and two grandchildren, said before the water tanks were installed at the retirement village one year ago, she often had to carry heavy buckets filled with greywater.
She said each day she receives the motivation to work in her garden from God.
“Every day I look up to the sky and say thank you to God that I am able to do what I enjoy most,” said Lategan.
She said she likes to work and keep herself occupied throughout the day.
“When my neighbours at the retirement village are not able to find me they know that I am busy in my garden,” said Lategan.
Apart from her daily gardening, she is also passionate about creating art pieces with copper and wood and designing beautiful mosaics.
Similar to Lategan, her neighbour and fellow gardener, Beauma Schenck, celebrated her 90th birthday in May this year.
Schenck has been passionate about gardening for many years and when she moved to Eden Glen over 16 years ago, she brought along a few items from her garden at home.
Finally, when she moved to Protea Block, she was able to use her gardening items to beautify her garden.
Since then, Schenck, who has two sons and six grandchildren, has continued to work in her garden every chance she gets.
“I cannot sit still and do nothing all day. If I am not gardening, then I am knitting or sewing,” said Schenck.
She said despite having to carry buckets of recycled water from a far distance, which was tiring, she still enjoyed taking care of her garden daily.
Thankfully, Schenck many residents were generous enough to save their bath and shower water which she then uses to water her garden.
“Gardening is a big pleasure, and it gives me something to look forward to everyday,” said Schenck.
“I thank God that I am healthy enough to work in my garden every day.”
Apart from maintaining the garden, she said she has also placed bird houses, filled with seeds, and bird baths for the many birds who keep her company while she removes weeds and dead plants from her garden.
She said the birds have become regular visitors to her garden and often tap on her window for food in the morning.
“I am never alone while gardening because the birds keep me company,” said Schenck.
She also said she enjoyed staying at Eden Glen as the staff and residents were always friendly.
