At the Westmoreland Rehab Center in Colonial Beach, a 76-year-old Army veteran decided to stave off boredom with a productive pursuit— growing a garden.

Willard Roy said he’s been at the center for five years, but the garden idea popped into his head just this year. It didn’t take long for word to spread around the rehab center, and before one could say Miracle-Gro, everyone pitched in, helping to bring Roy’s plan to fruition in the span of only a few months.

“I water it three times a day: in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. I just had to keep busy, and started with tomato plants in my windowsill.”

Putting together a garden in the courtyard of a rehab center is not without its challenges, starting with the absence of any soil. That, however, was easily solved as planters and raised beds were bought, constructed, filled, and seeded. With one dose of plant food and his triple daily waterings, Roy’s garden was off to the races.

Roy planted a veritable smorgasbord, from flowers to squash, cucumbers, and strawberries to tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, which the rehab center has used for some of their sandwiches.

“He paid for the seeds, and Carol, a woman that comes by here with a therapy dog, went out and got them,” one of the nurses commented. “Just last Friday, we made BLT sandwiches and used some of his lettuce. They were great!”

It was noted by another on the nursing staff that while the occasional donation was made, most of the work that went into growing this garden was all Roy. Everybody on the staff has been nothing but supportive, as have countless other residents. One, Maxine Hinton, decided this should not go unnoticed.

“He’s so proud of his garden, but he’s not the type to pat his own back,” Hinton explained. “He may not have wanted to be recognized, but we knew he needed it.”

Roy has no plans on stopping his gardening project, and the word is that there will be a few more accessories to come, such as a tiered fountain that has been ordered and is on its way to enhance this little gem in the midst of the rehab center.