Resident's Love of Gardening Flourishes at The Springs
When Len Berkshire visits the courtyard at The Springs at Monarch Landing in Naperville, his senses are sparked by the sights and scents of his perennial passion: gardening. There, the memory support assisted living community boasts a large raised bed blooming with rosemary, lemon thyme, basil, tomatoes, and other colorful herbs and plants. Wanting to add sensory plantings to the new Springs grounds, life enrichment manager Maria Nardulli asked woodworking enthusiasts in the connected Monarch Landing independent living community to build the bed. When she learned of Berkshire's green thumb, she asked him to advise on its care.
"Residents took to the woodshop, and Len tells us what the garden needs."
According to Berkshire's daughter, Wendy Matthews, "My father's love of gardening has been with him-and me-his whole life." Matthews grew up in Lombard surrounded by thriving flowers, herbs and vegetables raised from seed. Their house was often on the annual garden walks of the Men's Garden Club of Villa Park, of which Berkshire has been an active member for over 60 years.
"We had a large yard with extensive beds and a greenhouse attached to our garage." While lilacs, the star attraction of Lombard's annual festival and parade, were among the fragrant beauties in the Berkshire yard, another flower takes center stage in the gardener's legacy: the "Leonard Berkshire" daylily, named for him and registered with the American Hemerocallis Society. Hybridized by Eric Denham of the Chicagoland Daylily Society in honor of Berkshire's 90th birthday four years ago, the flower symbolizes Berkshire's many years with the daylily society and the men's garden club. When his daylily was added to the plant registry, club friends were eager to celebrate with him.
In the six years that Berkshire lived with his daughter and son-in-law in their Naperville home before moving to The Springs a year ago, Matthews drove him to garden club and computer club meetings and relished his care of their garden, which continues to bear the fruit of his labors. When she and her husband traveled, Berkshire spent time at The Springs in respite care. "It was a good way to get his feet wet, and we really liked how comfortable the surroundings were, with homey private rooms right off the main area," said his daughter.
When Berkshire's memory declined, a permanent move to The Springs was made. "The staff was wonderful in making my father feel comfortable during the transition," said Matthews. "He has all of his things from home-his computer, photos, TV, recliner-and it was really great when Maria (Nardulli) asked him to be in charge of the bed."
While Matthews sometimes worries that the Springs garden may make her father long for the past, she reminds him, and herself, of all the many gardens flourishing with her father's plants. "He was such a giver; no one could go in our yard without him giving them something from our garden. I have my father's daylilies in my garden, and they bloom more beautifully each year."
Monarch Landing is a continuing care retirement community located on a scenic campus in Naperville, Illinois-named "one of America's best places to live and retire" by Modern Maturity, and "the best city for early retirement" by Kiplinger. Monarch Landing offers independent living, promoting a vibrant life style for active seniors. The Springs at Monarch Landing offers assisted living memory support, rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, thus providing complete continuing care for seniors. Monarch Landing is owned by Senior Care Development and managed by Life Care Services. For additional information visit www.WelcomeToMonarchLanding.com or www.TheSpringsatMonarchLanding.com.