because he was very much active and engaged with gardening activities when he was fit.
My best friends Dad just died, but leading up to his death the dementia had made him non verbal and he really had begun to lose his sense of the world. However, he could still play ball - years and years of cricket and football had imprinted his brain such that he could still throw and catch! I love the idea of your Dad still awakening in the garden like that.
Loved this post @sanjeevm - it reminds us yet again of the deep spiritual and community value of a garden.
Yes, probably habits take over when the brain does not work.