Staten Island’s hidden garden: A senior’s labor of love brightens Canterbury House

Staten Island’s Hidden Garden: A Senior’s Labor of Love Brightens Canterbury House

The Canterbury House in Rosebank has become greener and more inviting thanks to resident Bill O’Connor. His self-funded garden serves as a calm and welcoming space where residents can relax and connect.

A Lifelong Passion for Gardening

O’Connor’s love for gardening began when he was a child in the South Bronx, where he once nurtured the only green spot in a junkyard—a sumac weed. This early connection with plants shaped his lifelong passion for cultivation.

Finding Healing Through Nature

For O’Connor, tending to plants provides both physical activity and emotional healing. It has become a form of therapy that helps him manage the challenges of aging.

The Beginning of the Canterbury Garden

His project started in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy, when he moved into Canterbury House, a senior housing residence managed by St. John’s Episcopal Church. Missing his former garden, he approached the local priest with an idea to create a new one.

“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,” the 84-year-old 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 turned a patch of bare rocks into a flourishing green oasis. His work brightened the building’s entrance and restored a sense of community pride.

Dedication and Personal Investment

The garden remains entirely funded by O’Connor himself. He covers all costs, using his own savings and gift cards from family for supplies such as soil, fertilizer, and tools purchased from local stores like Home Depot.

Author’s Summary

Bill O’Connor transformed a lifeless corner of Canterbury House into a vibrant garden that offers comfort, connection, and beauty to his community, all fueled by his dedication and personal resources.

SILive.com — 2025-11-04