Page 13 - Boca ViewPointe - July '21
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July 2021 Viewpointe, Page 13
Meet Your Neighbor
By Alisa Lebensohn into the same community as the growth of these stunning flowers, one must also discover
him for vacation!) The son another revelation about our unassuming neighbor.
This month’s Meet Your Neighbor will introduce you to a had purchased the home from Allan Carter is an international tennis champion.
truly remarkable and inspiring member of the Costa Del Sol a man who self-identified as Allan Carter started playing tennis at the “old age” of 26.
community. Allan Carter, who first piqued my interest because “the Orchid Doctor”; and Let that sink in. Having never picked up a racket prior
of his breathtaking orchid garden (look for the house with the who was looking to give to age 26 (handball was the sport of choice in the Bronx), a
statue of the girl playing tennis), became ever more fascinating away his prized collection colleague suggested that they play this racquet sport that Allan
the longer I spoke with him. of orchids. Allan, who at the had not even heard of before. But he was smitten with the very
A former NYC educator in the rough and tumble borough time “didn’t know an orchid first rally, and soon became enchanted with the sport, learning
of the Bronx, Mr. Carter retired about 25 years ago and moved from a tulip”, was game to try all he could about it, watching the greats, teaching himself, and
to South Florida a few years later. After a stint in Boynton his hand at growing some of ultimately, becoming a force to reckon with. He literally fell in
Beach, he relocated to what most would view as an ideal these lovely flowers, and as love with tennis and began what led to an incredible, exciting
Boca Raton location on the intracoastal. However, for the with everything else in his career playing tennis as a team representative of the United
gregarious and active Allan Carter, the beauty of that area was life, gave it everything he had, researching, and learning as States (!) in the ITF (International Tennis Federation), starting
outweighed by its relatively desolate and lonely vibe given the much as he could about these special flowers. The result, his his tenure for the ITF at age 50(!!!) playing doubles and singles
high number of snowbirds in his condominium (coupled with magnificent and truly prize worthy orchid collection, is on in competitions across the globe, and winning the title on
the ever non-functional bridge crossing). An unharried search display for those of us who walk the circle…Torre Circle that several occasions! This exciting venture has transported him
for a new abode led him to make an offer on a home in Costa is. You will know it when you see it, and it is worth looking to worlds many of us only dream about traveling to, including
Del Sol; but he didn’t hear back from the seller. Two months out for. A few photos, which do not do the collection justice, New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Turkey, Spain, Croatia, and
later he was alerted to a home for sale in this community, and are attached here for your review. If any of you find yourself Italy, to name a few. Would that we could all be inspired by the
sight unseen, made the same offer he had previously—and experiencing Orchid Envy, we direct you to an expert in the tenacity, fearlessness, and moxie that Allan Carter practiced
this time his offer was accepted. Unbeknownst to him at the field, Ryan from SR Orchid at Sample Sale Festival Flea throughout his adulthood, with incredible results!
time of the second offer, it was the exact same property he Market (Sat/Sundays are his days in the shop 954-647-1861),
had initially wanted. The house was clearly meant to be his. a true maven in the industry, who taught Allen much of what
Sometime thereafter, one of his sons bought a two-story he needed to get his own garden underway.
home in the community, to be used as a vacation spot (you The Allan Carter orchid saga cannot be understood in a
know it’s a great reflection on him if his son wanted to move vacuum. To truly appreciate the passion for life that led to
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