Vilma Anderiesz’s labour of love commended by management of retirement resort at Uswetakeiyawa

A voluntary effort to bring the colours of nature to an ocean-side retiree community has earned the admiration of both management and residents at ‘La Serena’ – the beachfront retirement resort in Uswetakeiyawa.

In the three and a half years since she became a resident, Mrs Vilma Anderiesz has transformed the gardens and green spaces of the three-acre property into a vibrant tapestry of colour. Battling saline breezes and sandy soil, she has coaxed into bloom a variety of flowering plants and foliage that continue to delight residents and visitors alike.

Her dedication was recently recognised with a plaque of appreciation presented by Mr Devaan Cooray, Director of Serene Resorts Limited, which owns and manages the resort.

After a 40-year career as a secretary to a prominent business leader, Mrs Anderiesz says she had little time for gardening earlier in life. But she brought with her to La Serena the enduring inspiration of her mother, once an avid gardener herself.

“I came here about five years after my mother passed away, and it struck me that she would never have left a garden like this unplanted,” she recalls. Starting with a clump of free-growing purple orchids she discovered on the property, Mrs Anderiesz, once an enthusiastic angler, found herself cultivating a new passion.

Today, with the help of an assistant she describes as having “green thumbs,” she has nurtured several flourishing garden spaces filled with orchids, hybrid hibiscus in a spectrum of colours, bougainvillea, lilies, pride of Japan and more, bringing both colour and fragrance into the daily lives of La Serena’s 30 residents.

“My mother used to say that God made the garden before He created Adam and Eve, and that we are closest to God in the garden,” she says. “It’s a lot of work, but I have help, and something that keeps me meaningfully occupied.”

A living example of the La Serena philosophy of independent, vibrant and fulfilling retirement living, the 77-year-old also pursues a range of other interests. She bakes for pleasure in her apartment, helps coach children with Mass readings at the nearby St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Uswetakeiyawa, and endeavoured to teach spoken English to Sunday school teachers to enable them to better support their students.

Purpose-built as a beachfront retirement community just north of Colombo, La Serena blends the privacy of individual living with the benefits of shared spaces. Residents enjoy access to thoughtfully designed amenities including a swimming pool, library and reading room, common lounge, mini gym and jogging path, encouraging an active and socially engaged lifestyle.

Each residence is designed for comfort and convenience, with private living and dining areas, kitchenettes, en-suite bathrooms and modern connectivity features. Optional services such as dining, housekeeping, laundry and round-the-clock security further enhance ease of living.

La Serena also offers flexible assisted living options tailored to evolving needs, from mobility-enhancing modifications to dedicated live-in support, ensuring residents can continue to live with dignity, independence and peace of mind.

Photo caption: Serene Resorts Director Mr Devaan Cooray presents the plaque of appreciation to Mrs Vilma Anderiesz.