Dr. Gerald Levitt, son of Juniper Village at Naples resident, Leonard (Lenny), has taken the juniper to a new level. Dr. Levitt cultivates bonsai trees and was captivated by the regard Juniper Village has for the juniper tree. The evergreen juniper is considered a metaphor for the life spirit in Chinese culture. Juniper Communities chose the juniper as a symbol for our philosophy of nurturing the spirit of life in those we serve. Juniper trees have a rich and varied symbolic history. For instance, junipers planted near the door will encourage only those with positve energy and intent to enter. Another use of the juniper branch is to hang over a doorway to ward off illness. Not only is the juniper a symbolic barrier to ill health, but in fact juniper branches were burned during the 1918 flu epidemic as an aerial antiseptic.
Dr. Levitt embraced the Chinese cultural metaphor of the juniper and interpreted it as a bonsai. He and his wife, Carol, presented the bonsai shown here as a gift to Juniper Village at Naples. We welcome family involvement of all types within our community. The varied talents of our residents and families enrich the environment of Juniper Village at Naples. Welcome to Lenny, Jerry, and Carol - we are grateful to have you as part of our Juniper family!
