It was a tribute to the beauty of nature and the inspiration of older generations when the community in Barrie converged in the courtyard of Coleman Care Centre on a bright June Saturday to revitalize the outdoor space there.
Spearheaded by Simcoe County’s Senior Wish Association, the garden project brought some 20 volunteers together to clean out the many flower beds and bring them to life with new plants, flowers and shrubs. This was made possible thanks to the new Barb Richards Memorial Grant, named in honour of the founder of the Senior Wish Association, and the effort paid tribute to a Coleman resident named Herman Hess, who treasured his time in the gardens of the courtyard.
“Whether it was exploring the Canadian mountains, strolling through public gardens, or tending to his own small balcony garden, he always sought beauty, tranquility, and the grounding presence of the outdoors,” said Herman’s daughter Susan Hess-Henderson as she thanked the volunteers. “Although my father didn't live to see the garden's revitalization, I know it would have brought him great joy to know that his friends at Coleman Care can now enjoy such a thoughtfully created space.”
A couple weeks after the team had dispersed, Janet Roberts is sitting by the window to the courtyard looking out as a slight drizzle waters the plants.
As a Coleman resident, Janet says she likes to go out and make sure no litter has blown into the courtyard. She likes it clean, she says, and she’s grateful for all the effort that went into brightening up the space.
“It’s a beautiful place to walk around and get some fresh air,” she says.
She remembered how Herman would often walk through the gardens to gather stones he thought were pretty – something his daughter says he did all his life, likely due to his keen jeweller’s eye for gems and beautiful stones.
There’s a special space there now reserved for Herman’s stones near the bush his family planted.
Coleman’s Residents’ Council President Kathy Crump says “it’s wonderful to have the community come in to support us,” noting that team members came in on their day off to volunteer alongside those from the Wish Association.
She looks forward to the summer barbecues held in the courtyard every Thursday, and says she and her fellow residents would like to pass along their gratitude for all who helped with the project, including the team from Green Light Landscape.
Susan shared the sentiment as well as she spoke to the volunteers that day.
“I am incredibly grateful to Seniors Wish for taking on this project,” Susan said, “and to the Coleman staff and community for nurturing it into something so meaningful.”
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