ROCHELLE — Tom McBride has done wonders in his little piece of paradise.

Every year the Rochelle resident plants vegetables and flowers on four plots of land he rents through the Rochelle Garden Club. An avid gardener for over 30 years, McBride enjoys the peace and serenity he gets while tending to the garden every day, sometimes three and four times a day.

And as most gardeners can attest to, it’s also therapeutic.

“I come out with my coffee early in the morning, sit on the swing and look at the flowers, the butterflies…the hummingbirds will come. It’s amazing what nature does…life is renewing itself,” McBride said. “And I can beat on the ground and no one says a thing…it’s good for my nerves. I like to mess with the plants, dig in the soil.”

McBride prides on the extras he includes in the garden; the bed frames that he incorporated as decorative gates, some nice pots he found someone was throwing out, and a hat he bought from a second-hand store he hangs from his swingset, which someone gave to him.

Perhaps what’s most profound is the fact McBride gives nearly all of his bounty away. He grows the fruits and vegetables because he likes to be with nature. Along with gardening, another favorite hobby is fishing.

“I don’t eat much…I grow it and give about 90 percent away. I give it to different people, and I have some take it for me,” McBride admits. “It’s something I like to do.”

Next year McBride said he might change it up a bit. He has been looking through books for ideas, mentioning the next year’s garden may be curvy and include some circles of different flowers.

Rochelle Garden Club

Garden club member Ann Andersen remarked on McBride’s creativity, but above all how he has transformed his plots.

“When I see things like that, it’s over and above…all the work he’s done. Tom is very creative and made it into his own backyard,” Andersen said. “He’s just happy with nature, there’s a peace about that.”

Adding, “he loves that garden, you can tell.”

As the growing season comes to an end, the garden club asks all plot renters to remove the wires, cages, and all accessories by Oct. 20. Andersen said about 90 plots were rented this year and after everything is removed, the ground will be tilled.

The Rochelle Garden Club meets the third Thursday between March and October. In August the group gathers for a picnic and in December, a potluck dinner. The group meets at the senior center.