KIRKWOOD GARDENS

Colorful plants in full bloom bring this informal garden to life, naturally attracting bees, butterflies, and birds of many species. Kirkwood Gardens is available for weddings and private functions. Wander into the former historic Holderness Inn to appreciate the quality craftsmanship and artwork showcased at the Squam Lake Artisan’s gallery.

Pick up lunch or a snack at the Kirkwood Café to enjoy on the garden terrace. (Open seasonally).

Open to the Public
Free of Charge
Located on Route 3
For more information, call 603-968-7194 or email info@nhnature.org

Kirkwood Gardens Day
June 14, 2008
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For PDF version of the Kirkwood Gardens Day flyer, >>>

Gain inspiration from Kirkwood Gardens while searching for beautiful additions to your own!
           
Don’t miss this sale of fine perennial plants from a prestigious New England nursery, plants from knowledgeable local gardeners, a garden collectibles and treasures sale, and a silent auction of desirable plants and garden-related items. Exceptional vendors include Canterbury Herbs, South African handmade table linens, Earth Jewelry by Lois Stratton, wooden bowls by Robin Dustin, bird carvings by John Harris, and birch bark frames by Bob McLean. Experts will be on hand to answer your gardening questions. Drinks, sandwiches, and baked goods are available for purchase and there is plenty of free parking.

There is no charge to attend. Kirkwood Gardens Day is under the tents in the garden on Route 3, rain or shine.

The History of Kirkwood Gardens
“Sunny” Grace Kirkwood, who had served on the Board of Trustees for the Science Center for six years, designed a one acre garden on the grounds of the historic Holderness Inn. The garden includes both shade and sun beds planted with a wide variety of trees, shrubs, ferns, and flowers adapted to the northern New England climate. Plants that are attractive to birds, bees, and butterflies are central to the garden’s design

More than 200 people attended the August 31, 1996 dedication of Kirkwood Gardens, none more excited than Sunny Kirkwood herself, to whom the gardens were dedicated. Sunny Kirkwood died peacefully at her home in North Sandwich on September 17, 1996.

Some highlights of Kirkwood Gardens include
A 25’X60’ bluestone patio on the west side of the historic Holderness Inn provides a scenic view for pedestrians, a place to sit in the summer shade, and a teaching area for Science Center programs.

A series of granite steps lead visitors from the shaded upper garden to the sunny, informal lower garden. Visitors can sit in the shade under the ancient sugar maples and enjoy the large variety of ferns, hostas, azaleas, rhododendrons, and other shade-loving plants in the upper garden. Sun-loving shrubs, trees, and perennials thrive in the lower garden, where visitors can enjoy a lovely sculpture, set their clocks by the sundial, watch the hummingbirds from a circular bench under the old apple tree, or view birds and butterflies as they visit a central millstone fountain.

A beautiful wooden pergola covered with a variety of vines is located at the west end of the lower garden. A combination of cobbles, pavers and river stone provide the surface under the pergola and highlight a large lunaform pot in the planting bed behind.