Legacy Village at Park Regency has earned first place in a photography contest highlighting residents cultivating hydroponic tower gardens at 13 senior living facilities across the Southeast operated by Legacy Senior Living of Cleveland, Tenn. Lisa Bynum, life enrichment coordinator at Legacy Village at Park Regency, received a $200 prize for her award-winning photograph of residents Sadie Dexter and Grace Weldon.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Legacy Village at Park Regency has earned first place in a photography contest highlighting active residents cultivating hydroponic tower gardens at 13 senior living facilities across the Southeast operated by Legacy Senior Living of Cleveland, Tenn.

Lisa Bynum, life enrichment coordinator at Legacy Village at Park Regency, received a $200 prize for her award-winning photograph of residents Sadie Dexter and Grace Weldon.

“Many of our seniors have cared for their own gardens, flower beds and crops throughout their lives. Their tower gardens, which rely on mineral and nutrient solutions instead of soil, allow residents to easily engage their passion for gardening without the need for hard labor. It’s amazing how these tower gardens can produce larger, healthier plants with beautiful colors,” Jamey Rickard, executive director of Legacy Village at Park Regency, said.

“You can tell from the photos we’ve posted on our Facebook page that this activity has brought big smiles to the faces of our residents. They have really enjoyed watching their beautiful plants grow from little pods to big, beautiful, fresh produce. They also take great pride in helping keep the plants pruned and watered as they are growing. Many of them talk about the gardens they used to tend at their homes, and I think this opportunity to grow our own produce has brought back many of those fond memories for them,” Bynum said.

Alongside the obvious physical and mental benefits of tending a garden, residents are also enjoying the nutritional and life-affirming fruits of their labors, Legacy Village said in a press release. Their own vegetables and herbs are being harvested for use in meals served in the Legacy Village at Park Regency dining hall, while the fresh cut flowers have made for handsome table decorations.

“The tower gardens have been superb. It makes us so happy to see so many residents being able to continue staying active in one of their favorite pastimes,” Rickard said.