For Casey Eckles, life has always been about nurturing — her six children, her nursing patients, and now, the flourishing greenhouse at Edgemere, Dallas’s premier senior living community.
At 91, Eckles is still active and engaged. “I’ve been retired a third of my life and don’t see any reason to stop doing what I love,” she laughs. Since moving to Edgemere seven years ago to be near her son Kurt, Eckles has thrown herself into community life, especially tending the greenhouse.
Originally from western Pennsylvania, Eckles lived in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida before relocating to Texas after her husband passed. When she saw Edgemere’s greenhouse, she knew it was the right place. “I came from Florida with five orchids. Now we have over 70.”
She quickly became the resident orchid expert, educating neighbors that these plants can rebloom with proper care. Her efforts turned the greenhouse into a vibrant oasis — and a hub for community connection. “There are very few senior living communities with a greenhouse this big,” she says proudly. “It’s a treasure.”
But gardening isn’t her only passion. Eckles is a watercolorist, photographer, and singer. She also leads a book club, sings in the choir, and knits with the “Knitwits” group.
With Edgemere’s maintenance-free lifestyle and convenient transportation services, Eckles enjoys both independence and support. “Some people fear losing independence by moving, but this opens a whole new world,” she says. “I’m living life to the fullest, on my terms.”
Schedule a tour and visit the greenhouse: edgemerelife.com/contact-us.
