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By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

BERMUDA RUN – Black and gold go well in a Japanese Garden.
At least here, they do.
And with a kick start from long-time (1964-1992) Wake Forest University Athletic Director Dr. Gene Hooks, the Japanese Garden at Bermuda Village is not only scheduled for a facelift, it should remain pristine for years to come.
Hooks, who came up with the idea for the garden, and John Jones, chair of the current garden committee, are raising money to establish an endowment that could keep the garden going at least for another 40 years. The fund has been established through the Davie Community Foundation.
It all started after Hooks moved to his current residence at Bermuda Village.
He looked out his window, and didn’t like what he saw.
“It was a lot of weeds and overgrown trees in the backyard,” he said, “but there was a small pond. I thought it could be dressed up and made into something nice. I got to thinking that it could be a beautiful site for residents to go out and sit, read, enjoy each other and enjoy the outdoors. We didn’t have any place like that here.”
A garden, he thought, would also give residents a place to enjoy the outdoors.
When Hooks gets an idea, he goes with it.
“I had been to Japan several times, and really admired their gardens,” Hooks said. He met with residents, and developers of Bermuda Village. He also made a sizeable initial investment.
A landscape architect agreed with Hooks that a Japanese garden would fit well in that space between buildings. It was decided to allow people to make donations for plants, in exchange for a small plaque dedicating that portion of the garden to someone’s honor or memory.
Phase I was completed and was beautiful, Hooks said. But there were still unkept areas on both ends.
“I don’t think any of us had the vision of how much work it was going to take, and what it would look like when it was finished.”
So they went to work again, finishing the garden residents enjoy today.
“It’s turned out real well, but there’s always maintenance and ways to improve it,” Hooks said.
Enter Jones, who admittedly didn’t know anything about gardening, but quickly learned. They can be expensive, and need regular maintenance. He’s trying to raise enough money to establish the endowment, with profits going to the garden’s upkeep. Hooks was an initial investor, and his drive helps to keep Jones committed to the project.
“Gene has done a lot, not just for Wake Forest, but for the residents here,” he said to a gathering of residents explaining the project. “He’s just a wonderful mentor and we’re honored to have people like him living here.”
Speakers at the project included brothers Larry and Bob McCreary, Bermuda Village employees, Davie Extension horticultural agent Susan Hawkins, foundation president Jane Simpson, and Carol Quinn.
Hooks graduated from Wake Forest when it was located in the town of the same name, and returned as a teacher and coach after stints playing professional baseball and teaching at NC State. He also coached baseball at Wake Forest, and can still be seen at many of the games. The stadium bears his name.
“The garden has turned out far more beautiful than I thought it would,” Hooks said. “But I don’t want it just good, I want it pristine.”
Donations can be made through the Davie Community Foundation.