October 15, 2019 —For those who want to experience the beauty of nature in their retirement, it doesn’t get much better than the grounds of Kendal at Lexington. We caught up with a few of our biggest resident nature lovers to talk about their love of the outdoors and see how the desire to spend time outside played into their decision to choose to move to Kendal at Lexington.
Something from Nothing: Gardening with Ted Burrowes
In the nearly four years since Ted Burrowes moved into his cottage at Kendal, he’s established quite the garden. “It’s evolved, but what I have right now will be a fairly stable arrangement going forward,” he says. With strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, tomato plants, cucumbers and lettuce, Ted enjoys quite the variety of freshly grown produce.
Still, he insists that his garden isn’t that extensive, especially compared to the plot he used to have before moving to Kendal. “I get a few raspberries to throw on some cereal,” he says. “I’m hoping to get enough lettuce to keep me in salads for the next month or so until it gets too hot.”
While enjoying the final product is nice, for Ted, gardening is more about the process. “I theorize that part of the attraction for me is the idea of getting something from nothing,” he says. “You stick the seed in the ground and then you get something back that you didn’t have to pay additionally for.”
When he’s not keeping busy with weeding, watering and mulching, Ted also enjoys walking the grounds of Kendal or walking into town. “For me, being outside is just part of my physical fitness,” he says. “I just feel better if I’m active, and as long as I can be active, that’s what I like to do.”
Get Moving: Walking with David and Carolee Chamberlin
Ted certainly isn’t alone is his enjoyment of walks; in fact, residents David and Carolee Chamberlin are known around Kendal at Lexington for “walking everywhere.”
“I think we have always loved being outside and it keeps us moving, gets our joints going,” Carolee explains. “We love to see if we can identify birds and trees and flowers — and Kendal is the perfect spot to go on walks.”
For the Chamberlins, finding a community that would allow them to be active outside and experience nature was a high priority, especially after moving from busy Northern Virginia. “We liked the lack of high density population and it’s just beautiful country,” David says. “We never cease to be amazed with how beautiful it is.” Adds Carolee, “We love how on a clear day, you can see the outline of the mountains. It fulfills some deep spiritual need.”
And while the couple hesitates to call themselves true “birders,” they do love identifying birds and vegetation on their walks. “If we don’t know the bird, we look it up in our bird book,” says Carolee, who keeps a running list of all the birds they see. “We recently identified a scarlet tanager, which people say is rare.”
On the Bluebird Trail: Bird Watching with Renate Chapman
Another resident bird watcher is Renate Chapman. While Renate doesn’t consider herself a “serious” bird watcher, she does help monitor the bluebird trail at Kendal.
“Maybe a year after we moved here, a gentleman, who had been monitoring the bluebird trail along the fence between our campus and the farm next door, asked me whether I would like to take on the job. I did not have a good excuse handy, so I said yes,” she says, but then admits that the job does have its moments. “Like when you discover the first eggs in a nest, or a big fat snake in one of the boxes, or when the tree swallows let you know you are public enemy number one.”
Beyond tending to the bluebird trail, Renate also keeps an extensive garden around all four sides of her cottage, where she’s lived for eight years now. From bulbs and perennials like daffodils, hyacinths, Virginia bluebells, primroses, dahlias and goldenrod, to annuals like zinnias, begonias and geraniums — plus a long list of other plants and flowers — she plants as much as will possible fit. “There are not too many weeds in my garden, because there simply is no room for them,” she says.
Like many other residents, getting time outdoors during retirement is an important part of Renate’s daily routine. “I definitely need some time outdoors nearly every day, or I get cabin fever,” she says.
Luckily, the grounds of Kendal at Lexington offer numerous ways to get out and enjoy nature — whether you’re a bird watcher, gardener or just love walking around outside.
Come see the beautiful grounds for yourself. Plan a visit to Kendal at Lexington.
