Kirkwood Gardens
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
Saturday, June 8
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Gain inspiration from Kirkwood Gardens
Find beautiful plants for your own garden
- Fine perennials from a prestigious New England nursery
- Silent Auction of desirable plants and garden items
- Plants from knowledgeable local gardeners
- Creative planters and handmade items
- Expert opinions and advice
- Coffee, cocoa, tea, cold drinks, and baked goods for sale
All proceeds benefit 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 that do not require a tent. Wander into the historic former Holderness Inn for a bite to eat at the Kirkwood Cafe or shop for quality craftsmanship and artwork showcased at the Squam Lake Artisans gallery.
The History of Kirkwood Gardens
“Sunny” Grace Kirkwood, who 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.
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 ancient sugar maples and view 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 beyond it.
Kirkwood Gardens are generously sponsored by Belknap Landscape Company.
