By: Lenore Schwartz
Spring turns into summer, the days get hotter and less hectic and that makes it a good time to reflect on the pleasures of being in Bermuda Isle. Up north, the land awakened and bloomed, but here, although it’s always beautiful, we too, get the blooming of many trees and other foliage.
As you walk around the island you’ll see numerous Bougainvillea’s ablaze with purple or red flowers, a Gardenia bush with fragrant white flowers, Dorrie Haikens’ 2 Magnolia trees (though alas their massive blooms have withered) and colorful Hibiscus trees at the homes of Ketly and Marshall Williams, Judy and Peter Friedman and Ronnie Appelbaum. Helen Rose just put an unusual multi-colored hibiscus bush in her yard. Continuing on your walk, you will note that Flo and Jerry Sosniks’ beautiful pink potted Mandeville plant, Marilyn Cohen’s outstanding Bird of Paradise and yet another one at Anita Gittleson’s place. White Jasmine can be seen at the homes of Bobbie and Neil, Susan and Ron Tabin and Richard and Joann Murphy, small Pentas adorn the front of Joel and Sandy Wenacurs’ colorful flower bed with a yellow Shrimp plant and a gorgeous backyard complete with an exotic tropical garden. There’s a Desert Rose and a Lantana plant at Timmie and Moe Frieds’ abode next to Judy and Harvey Schwartzs’ big showy pink Frangipani along with a Blue Plumbago.
In the median, as you pass through the gates coming into B.I., there is a huge Plumbago along with plenty of bright Impatiens. I understand our conscientious neighbor Don Buesking waters them regularly. Thanks Don! Newly planted colorful Kalanchoe decorate the home of Bruce Frieman and Lynn Sauve. And check out the Firecracker plants at Ruth and Phil Snyders’ and in Helen and Sid Roses’ tropical garden. Many people have colorful lxoras in front of their houses (nice ones Mark and Mike) as these were planted some 20 odd years ago by the builder.
Stroll by the home of Helen and Sid and you’ll see every imaginable flowering plant flourishing here. Helen’s green thumb was nurtured in Australia.
It’s June, so where are the roses? I asked Marge Adler, who loves this flower and has tried numerous times to grow them here however, without success. She says it’s too hot in Florida and they don’t survive. Anyone want to challenge her?
Our expert horticulturist, Helen, who had pointed out all the above-mentioned plants in Bermuda Isle, has recommended some small annual plants for color this summer. The following will do well in this cli-mate: petunias, wax begonias, portulucas, salvias, pentas, gerba daisies, geraniums, and impatiens. (When the winter ones fade, plant the New Guinea impatiens which tolerate the heat). If you’re really observant, you’ll realize that Bermuda Isle is both colorful and filled with pleasant aromas.
Looking at the lakes, you’ll spot more birds and many ducks following mama duck in a perfectly straight line. Don’t you wonder how they are so well trained? On the golf course across from our homes are the beautiful Egyptian ducks who seem to gather in particular around dusk … happy hour perhaps? Someone counted 18 of them with all the babies. They’re friendly with the golfers, sometimes pecking on the carts when they see their reflections in the shiny painted sides.
This year has brought many new neighbors to our community. Though many have already been greeted, I’d like to list all who joined us this past year as this is the last issue of the Aberdeen Times until October and the start of a new season. In July, we welcomed Don and Anna Buesking, Steve and Susan Kaolik, Rob Tannenbaum and Bonnie Lappin, Bruce Frie-man and Lynn Sauve. Anita Gittleson and her com-panion Mel Krieger, along with Michael Souza and Marc Furtado. Since the beginning of this year, we have welcomed Emily Schultz and Brian Enriquez, Lloyd and Leslie Zide and last, but not least, Joel and Kathleen Sinkin. We hope that all of our new neighbors become involved in the community and enjoy living here for many years to come.
By now most residents have become familiar with the new electronic directory at the gate, and are finding it more efficient than the old one with very convenient guest cards. Many thanks go out to the board for a job well done, with outstanding work by Don and his wife, Anna, with additional help from Jake Kamp.
There are quite a few original owners and for them we feel an update on former friends is warranted. Anna May Ervolino is in touch with Mary Lou Blute. She and Ed (a great golfer) moved to Texas. Ed passed away 10 months ago. Her brother, Msgr. Jim Balint, a former B.I. resident, came to visit in Boynton Beach and was killed in a tragic car accident on Mar. 11th. Our hearts go out to the family… Recuperating on our island lessens the pain: Marge Adler, from a fractured foot, Ruth Snyder, recovering from a back operation and Harvey Schwartz is still gaining some of his strength following an unexpected operation.
Good news from Marge Adler — 2 of her great- grandsons celebrated bar mitzvahs (Sean in May and Elijah in June) and her granddaughter, Amy, became engaged to Dan Oran with a November wedding planned. Marilyn and Shelly Felds’ granddaughter, Leah Reiner, was married to Ben Mayhew on May 15th. Congrats to all!
