You can tell he’s spent most of his time outdoors by his weathered hands and ball cap. A former farmer and volunteer firefighter from nearby Deltaville in Middlesex County, Carl Vaughan tends to the courtyard at Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center almost daily.
“I do it to get outside. I’ve always been an outdoors guy,” he says.
Carl plans his garden at Walter Reed with the help of activity director Julie Boothe. They look over catalogs and she orders his seeds and supplies. The community also provides donations for the courtyard garden.
He started keeping up with the Walter Reed garden around the time of the pandemic in mid-2020. The Master Gardeners of Gloucester weren’t able to come when visitation was closed, and Carl assumed the care taking role. He switched up what was planted, though, telling Julie, “I’m planting vegetables, not flowers.”
Carl rakes the courtyard, waters, and manages the greenhouse. Carl also takes care of the plants in the greenhouse. There are still flowers in the courtyard, but there are lots of other plants as well.
In the spring, Carl planted peas, patio corn, radishes, cucumbers, lettuces, green peppers, three varieties of squash, and five types of tomatoes. Why so many? He really enjoys a good tomato sandwich. The garden vegetables are also used to make salads and other items for the residents at Walter Reed.
Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Gloucester