Knowing his younger wife’s dream of having a small garden, an American man in his late 70s worked tirelessly under the sun and rain to transform a 6,000-square-meter plot of land into a flourishing garden filled with Vietnamese fruits and vegetables.

A love story between an older man and a younger woman

Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu, originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, lives in Arizona, USA, with her husband, William Andrew Maley (75), and their two sons. Despite their 37-year age difference, the couple has built a happy life together.

William, a multitalented man who worked various jobs in his youth, is now retired and only performs with his music band. His artistic nature and healthy lifestyle have kept him looking youthful for his age.

Quynh Nhu married William when she was 19. In July 2007, she moved to the U.S. to join her husband. Despite living abroad for 19 years, Nhu never felt lonely or isolated, as William always found ways to keep her happy.

Their love story began with a family-arranged introduction. At the time, Nhu had just finished high school, and William was already middle-aged. “After four months of talking, I admired William’s talents, kindness, and hard work. He taught, played in a band, and had several other jobs,” Nhu shared.

The couple quickly realized they were compatible and soon after, William traveled to Vietnam to meet her in person and arrange their wedding.

When Nhu first moved to the U.S., she faced many challenges, including language barriers, cultural differences, and extreme weather. Arizona's summer temperatures can soar to 50°C, while winters can drop to 0°C.

At the time, the Vietnamese community in Arizona was small, making it difficult for Nhu to socialize. She spent her days working and confiding in her husband.

Nhu fondly shared, “William, with his life experience, always knew how to take care of me and our children. We get along so well, and our marriage has been very happy, proving that the saying ‘an older husband and a younger wife make a perfect match’ is true.”

She feels fortunate that her husband respects and loves Vietnamese culture and cuisine. Every time they visit her hometown, William eagerly enjoys traditional Vietnamese dishes and sightseeing.

A garden gift for his wife - with one condition

Since both Nhu and William enjoy Vietnamese food, they dreamed of having a garden where they could grow their own produce. Initially, they were too busy with work and raising their children, so Nhu only planted a few eggplants and chili peppers to remind her of home.

In 2020, when William retired and the COVID-19 pandemic hit Arizona, he had more free time.

Nhu recalled, “We found out that a 6,000-square-meter plot of land, just 10 minutes from our house, was for sale. We visited it and instantly fell in love. William decided to buy it and started transforming it into a garden for me.”

William worked on the garden alone, clearing weeds and installing a watering system, despite the fact that he was not used to manual labor.

Though unfamiliar with such labor, William learned as he went, often encountering setbacks and having to redo certain tasks.

“His hands and body were covered in cuts and bruises from the weeds, and he even lost weight after four months of working in the garden,” Nhu said.

After the land was prepared, William gave Nhu the freedom to choose the plants—with one condition: they had to be Vietnamese fruits and vegetables that he loved. He even drove five to six hours to purchase specific plants.

William planted various citrus trees, including limes and tangerines, along with nearly 50 types of fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers, including Vietnamese staples like starfruit, sugarcane, guava, and mango, as well as gourds, bitter melon, herbs, and okra. They also grew flowers, with roses, peaches, daisies, and morning glories being the most prominent.

William especially enjoyed growing melons, particularly the kind used to make pickled melons, and also grew medicinal herbs for traditional Vietnamese steam baths, a practice he has come to love.

With the garden just a 10-minute drive from their home, William visits frequently, spending three to four days a week there without getting bored. After tending to the plants, he strolls through the garden, harvesting fruits and vegetables. On some afternoons, he relaxes under the trellises of gourds and melons, breathing in the scent of fresh produce and soaking in the joy of gardening.

Since creating the garden, the family has enjoyed more Vietnamese dishes. William particularly loves bitter melon soup, pickled melon with rice porridge, and sour soup with taro stems.

“There’s no greater happiness than enjoying Vietnamese food in a foreign land, especially when the ingredients come from your own garden. William always says Vietnamese food is the best, and he’s willing to invest thousands of dollars to buy seedlings and fill our garden,” Nhu proudly shared.

Each time they harvest produce, Nhu gives some to friends and family as a way of sharing Vietnamese culture and cuisine in the U.S.