Residents at North Star Retirement Community in Coeur d'Alene pass through the back doors, enjoying the patio chairs and small tables - and the vegetable garden.

Thanks to Carl Thienes, a World War II veteran who has lived there for almost a year, residents can take in the sight of an abundant vegetable garden that he has grown over the last two months.

"I was worried about him because he was sleeping too much," said Joy French, another resident of North Star and good friend of Thienes.

French said she was worried he was going to die if he didn't find something to do. So when the weather got nice, he began growing the vegetable garden in large wooden garden beds Thienes said were already out there, just waiting for someone to make use of them.

Many of the plants, which started out very small, have grown tall and broad, and because they are in elevated beds they can easily be seen through the dining room windows.

Thienes said the garden has made him feel better, which was evident by the smile on his face and his energy as he walked around proudly showing off the different vegetables.

"I planted seven Brandywine tomato plants, two Sweet 100s, and then I've got three zucchini plants," Thienes said. "I can tell you the difference between a male and a female zucchini plant ... They seem like they got it turned around, but it isn't."

Thienes had also planted cucumbers, thyme, squash, potatoes, corn and onions.

Between the outdoor patio of the dining room and his own room not too far away, Thienes planted a large strawberry patch that is already producing strawberries ready to eat.

"I had a great big bowl with half and half and a little bit of sugar at 5:30 this morning," Thienes said.

He said he was having a problem with slugs in his strawberry patch and discovered a trick to get rid of them - small condiment cups filled with beer and placed throughout the patch.

With too many vegetables on the rise for him to eat by himself, Thienes said he will give some of them away when they are ready. Although there are too many for himself, he said there would not be enough for the chef to use in a meal for the many residents at North Star either.

When he was younger he said he lived on 300 acres and his dad had 5 acres of garden.

"He had a running grocery store in a truck ... kept all the vegetables cool and he would cut up his own meat," Thienes said.

His father died in that truck when it rolled over when Thienes was 12. He also had a twin brother who died 10 years ago.

He and his brother joined the Navy and went to boot camp at Farragut at the same time - 71 years ago. After three years in the war, he did some logging in Eugene, Ore., for 25 years. He said he came to Idaho in 1973 because it rained too much in Oregon.

"I love Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; it's one of the best places in the Northwest as far as I am concerned," Thienes said.

He said he really likes North Star and French said everyone there loves him.

They soon became friends after both moved into North Star last summer. Thienes and French said a lot of people think they are married.

"I don't want to marry him and ruin a good friendship," French said jokingly. "Course, he never asked me, either."