Golden anniversary of hearts of beauty

COFFEE WITH WARREN, with Warren Harbeck
Cochrane Eagle, July 13, 2023

Tom and Geri Biberger’s backyard “Garden of Eden” in the Cochrane subdivision of West Valley is blessed with the couple’s imagination and dedication to each other and to the community. Photography by Warren Harbeck

Today, Thursday, July 13, marks a very special occasion in the lives of two of our longtime coffee companions. It’s Tom and Geri Biberger’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. To celebrate their contribution to each other and to our community I’d like to revisit my column for Sept. 10, 2020.

SUMMERTIME OFFERS my wife Mary Anna and me a chance to enjoy some of the breathtaking backyard gardens around Cochrane. For instance, we spent a late afternoon and evening in Tom and Geri Biberger’s garden in the West Valley subdivision.

For over 30 years now, Tom and Geri have been creating a Rundle Rock-edged “Garden of Eden” of ferns, flowers, fountains and other flora.

We asked them what their favourite flowers were. Geri took us over to the purple morning glory palm – oooops! I mean the purple morning glory she was cupping in the palm of her hand (see along left edge in accompanying collage). Tom directed us to a bush lush with begonias. Awesome!

Tom’s skills as an electrician are evident, too. As evening approached, lights around the fountain came on and lent a mystical atmosphere to the storybook setting. Then came an amazing surprise when full darkness set in: Tom had placed an ornamental light in the middle of the lawn that radiated a starburst of beauty to the farthest corners.

TOM AND GERI’S “Garden of Eden,” so rich in the life-affirming beauty they radiate throughout our community, is as precious as gold. Happy Golden Anniversary, Tom and Geri!

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