Totally Unauthorized

They used to say that life begins at 40, but 40 was a long time ago, and still life goes on.

When are you too old to start something new?  I don’t know, but it sure isn’t 25, or 35, or 45.

There’s a fantastic place on Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek called the Ruth Bancroft Garden.  Ruth was 63 years old, and had some extra acreage she wanted to do something with, so she started a succulent garden.  That was 38 years ago, and at the age of 101 Ruth still putters occasionally in the world class facility she began when she was “too old” to start a new project.

All of this comes to mind as I think of someone we all know–BJ Ledgerwood.

Bridge player, Master gardener, college student BJ

BJ.  Beej.  Belinda Jo. You see her around the club, flashy clothes and long, thick hair, and don’t realize how she is still growing and changing and improving her life.

After taking early retirement from the phone company, BJ was taking life easy and enjoying herself.  She tried catering, she sold real estate, she did this and that but nothing really gave her a passionate reason to get up in the morning.

Then she started taking gardening classes with Lisa Evans, and her fire was lit.  They both became master gardeners, they both are taking horticulture classes at Merrit College in Oakland.

Now BJ is going even further–she is working towards becoming a landscape architect, and she has opened a small landscaping business of her own.  Since I get to see her in my garden, I know that she has at least one customer.  Gardens are more Gail’s thing than mine, but I’m awfully happy about the herb garden she has put in to improve my cooking, and now there will be a lime tree to make the margaritas better.  Coming soon are plants to increase the butterflies and hummingbirds.

Two, for certain, since she is designing a new garden for her bridge partner Jack Hawks.  Those are the drawings she did for him in the photo above, outlining different possibilities for landscape design around his condo in Walnut Creek.

In terms of specialization, BJ has become relatively expert in California native plants.  She completely re-did her own backyard 2 years ago, and after the first year was selected to be on the California Natives garden tour–a spectacular honor for a garden so new.  Now that it is 2 years old and the plants are filling in, her backyard is simply fantastic.  You should see it–and she’ll be happy to show it to you.

So now you know that BJ is more than just a pretty face.  She has started something big, and is seeing it through with perseverance and dedication.  I’ve  started blogging, and I’m having a great time.  Mike Rippey started playing serious bridge.  Gail started creating daily specials for our pizza store.  What are you not too old to start this year?