You are only as old as you feel.
And if you were to visit Yvonne Parfitt Place in Westridge, it will be hard to ignore a beautifully colourful garden, now in full bloom.
At 80 years old, Betty Kock has had a lifetime to master the art of gardening, creating a bit of peace for herself no matter where she lives.
She is self-taught and enjoys ploughing back into her garden. And, as many of us who have seen a plant wilt away can confirm, they don’t always take. But the key is keeping at it and creating a piece of calm, she says.
“I started gardening from my young days. I love gardening because it’s calming, gives you love and keeps you busy,” she says.
“I also knit headbands and bedsocks. I never get bored. I go to prayer meetings and church and I do my gardening.”
She has been living at Yvonne Parfitt Place for the past 10 years and although she has moved units, her garden continues to flourish.
Her favourites are Marigold and Zinnia (Jacob Regop) as they last long and give you seeds to replant, extending the life cycle of the plant.
“Gardening keeps you fit. It is like exercise,” she says.
To others who may be idle in their aging, she encourages them to find something to do.
“At this age, you do not need to sit at home. There is a lot that you can do. You can knit, garden or even just go out to meet with people and talk about God.”
