Staten Island’s Hidden Garden: A Senior’s Labor of Love Brightens Canterbury House
The grounds around Canterbury House in Rosebank have become noticeably greener thanks to Bill O’Connor, a resident who has dedicated a year to weeding, mulching, and planting. His passion for gardening began in his childhood in the South Bronx, where he cared for a single sumac weed amid a junkyard.
For O’Connor, gardening offers therapeutic benefits, helping him cope with health challenges that come with aging. After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, he moved into Canterbury House, a senior housing facility managed by St. John’s Episcopal Church. Missing his gardening, he asked the church’s priest for permission to start a garden.
“I really lucked out with the garden because I missed my garden, so I asked the priest of St. John’s Episcopal Church at the time if I could start one,” O’Connor said. “He said, ‘Bill, you can do it, but you’ve got to make it look nice because this is the first thing you see when you come up to the building.’”
By 2014, O’Connor had transformed a barren rock patch into the vibrant garden it is today. He funds the entire project himself, using money from his own pocket and gift cards from family. Supplies such as dirt and fertilizer are purchased from stores like Home Depot.
Bill O’Connor’s Gardening Journey
- Grew up gardening in the South Bronx, nurturing a sumac weed amid a junkyard
- Moved to Canterbury House in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy
- Received permission to start a garden at Canterbury House from the church priest
- Transformed a barren area into a flourishing garden by 2014
- Finances garden expenses personally and through family gift cards
This garden stands as a testament to one man's dedication and the healing power of nurturing nature in a community setting.