Pines People- Jerry Gaschen & Larry Tallamay
Love makes a garden grow…
It was 1995 and Larry Tallamay was moving into a new building in NYC. Their fate intervened as he would meet his life partner and husband Jerry Gaschen. Jerry had a successful garden business in the Hampton’s but summered in Fire Island Pines. Larry was not a fan having experienced the island in the past. They had much in common including the love of gardening. Larry was a teacher, then transitioned into a CO position in a long-term care company.
After convincing Larry to give the Pines another chance they rented a COOP for two summers 1996-97. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to have a garden, so they sold the NY apartment and bought a home in the Pines. At first the real estates did not understand them. Unlike most they did not care about a pool. They continued showing them typical homes with pools until they got it. They wanted land which is a commodity in the Pines. They found it literally where Ocean meets Sky Walk. It is here that they built their garden by the sea, and the life they wanted. Year after year the plant exchange with friends new and old created a variety of perennial’s that like all of us come back again and again. In 1998 they got married and continue to build their life and garden.
The garden..
As they spend much of the winter here in the Pines, seeds are started inside early as there garden is planned and carefully orchestrated.
The rewards are plenty…
Retired now and living year-round in the Pines. They both love the Pines and are dedicated to the community now driving the mobility access car for almost ten years. It creates a full life serving both the community and the earth…
Spring, Summer or Fall there love for the Pines and each other continue to bloom…
