GARDENING

March 1999 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

GARDENING
by Jack Hardy

I dedicate this month's article to a remarkable Treasure Cay couple who are an example to us all. Arthur and Gladys Wright will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in June of this year, a rare and beautiful human experience.

Arthur turned 90 in December 1998, but you wouldn't believe it to see him. I visited the Wrights at their Ocean Boulevard home in January and found Arthur out in his garden taking time out from working on his vegetable garden. He was a little behind schedule this season because he had to grow his tomatoes from seed, but everything looked healthy and fine. I returned in early February to take a photograph of his garden and there had been amazing progress.

Arthur and Gladys first came to Treasure Cay in 1969 and moved into their present home ten years later. For 20 years Arthur has grown vegetables as a pastime. When he cleared out his garden area, he was able to build walls with the rocks that were removed. Over the years he has augmented his sandy soil with plenty of seaweed from Treasure Cay beach. Arthur grows a wide variety of vegetables and that may very well be one of the secrets to the Wrights' longevity.

Arthur told me his father - after serving in the British Army in World War I for four years - emigrated from Norfolk, England, to Canada in 1926 when Arthur was 17. Arthur and Gladys have returned every year since they found their piece of paradise in Treasure Cay. Their home is named, of course, The Wright Place.

So for this month - if you need any gardening advice - go and chat with Arthur. He'll be glad to tell you how to grow beautiful vegetables in Treasure Cay.

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