Earle Thompson described his wife of 60 years, Geraldeane, as the best thing that ever happened to him.

"I've never met a person like her," he said.

Geraldeane was a homemaker and tended to the couple's two children and garden. The yard was not much to look at when they first bought the Levittown home 40 years ago Geraldeane told her husband she "would get out there and do the best she could."

"She made a beautiful garden out of it," Thompson said. "She loved her garden."

Geraldeane worked on her garden diligently until a hip injury rendered her incapacitated. She later passed away in January of 2002. Thompson said he then tried to tend to the garden outside to "keep the garden as nicely as she had."

"I am glad that I did that because that is when I was happiest, when I was out there," he continued. "I felt close to her."

This year Thompson attended a flower show at Hofstra University in search of perennials so he "wouldn't have to get down on his hands and knees each year" when planting. Long Island Horticulture Society President Barbara Levine met Thompson and heard his story.

Levine said the 86-year-old World War II veteran - his blue eyes brimming with tears - began to tell his story.

"He said his bride passed away and she loved gardening," she explained. "He said his whole backyard is such a wonderful memory of her, but it's fading because the garden is fading."

His story touched Levine "right in the heart" she said, and promised him that something would get done.

At the next Long Island Horticulture Society meetingLevine told Thompson's story to the group and asked them if they could help revitalize his garden.

On Sunday, May 7, 12 volunteers from the society came equipped with rakes, shovels and gloves to Thompson's Ramble Lane home.

"People were just there because they felt this was something that needed help and they were going to help," Levine said. "I was so impressed."

"The people who came here - every single one of them - had a big smile on their face," Thomspon added.

Touched by the actions of this group, Thompson offered them payment for their wonderful work. The society, a non-profit organization, said they couldn't accept it. Levine suggested donating to one of their scholarships for college students interested in pursuing a horticulture career. Thompson began with a donation of $1,000 in his wife's memory.

Levine noted, " 'He said to me, I am from strong, Norwegian stock. My grandfather lived until 105 and I'm going to live until 105 and as long as I'm alive, every year I am going to give money to this fund in honor of my wife.' "

The Long Island Horticultural Society was founded in 1934 and meets monthly (except in July and August) at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay. Their next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 21 at 7 p.m. For more information or to join, visit www.lihort.org.