Kirkwood Gardens
Experience Beautiful New England Gardens
Free, Informal Public Gardens in the Lakes Region
Kirkwood Gardens is a welcoming, informal public garden in the heart of New Hampshire.
Open daily to the public, free of charge, and located along Route 3 in Holderness, these one‑acre gardens blend sun and shade beds filled with trees, shrubs, ferns, and flowers chosen for our northern New England climate. Colorful blooms bring the garden to life and naturally attract bees, butterflies, and birds of many species.
- Open to the public daily – no reservations required
- Free of charge
- Located on Route 3; please park behind Kirkwood Gardens on Central House Road
Kirkwood Gardens is a peaceful place to relax before or after a visit to the Live Animal Exhibit Trail, or a destination of its own for anyone searching for New Hampshire public gardens and pollinator‑friendly planting ideas.
A sanctuary for people, pollinators, and ideas
What you’ll see in the gardens
Designed as an informal, nature‑inspired garden rather than a formal display, Kirkwood Gardens includes:
- Shade and sun beds planted with a wide variety of trees, shrubs, ferns, and perennials
- Plants selected to thrive in northern New England and to attract birds, bees, and butterflies
- A 25‑by‑60‑foot bluestone patio on the west side of the historic Holderness Inn, offering a scenic place to sit in the summer shade
- Granite steps leading from a shaded upper garden to a sunny, informal lower garden
In the upper garden, visitors can sit beneath ancient sugar maples and enjoy ferns, hostas, azaleas, rhododendrons, and other shade‑loving plants. The lower garden features sun‑loving shrubs, trees, and perennials, along with:
- A central millstone fountain visited by birds and butterflies
- A circular bench under an old apple tree, perfect for watching hummingbirds
- A beautiful wooden pergola set at a playful angle, covered in vines
- Cobblestones, pavers, river stones, and a striking Lunaform pot that add texture and interest
Throughout the season, color‑coded plant maps and labels help visitors learn which plants attract which wild creatures and offer ideas to try at home.
The Story of Kirkwood Gardens
Designed by Grace “Sunny” Kirkwood
Kirkwood Gardens was designed by Grace “Sunny” Kirkwood, an internationally known landscape designer and long‑time friend of the Science Center. A former Squam Lakes Natural Science Center trustee (1985–1991), Sunny created the gardens in the mid‑1990s on the site of the historic Holderness Inn’s former parking lot.
Sunny’s life and career took her far beyond New Hampshire. She:
- Rebuilt the kitchen garden at Mount Vernon
- Helped design gardens in the Boston and Harvard areas
- Created landscapes in the Middle East, including for the Shah of Iran and other leaders
When she returned to New Hampshire and eventually settled in North Sandwich, Sunny brought her global experience and deep love of plants to this one‑acre garden project.
A unique and whimsical design
Sunny was determined that Kirkwood Gardens should feel natural, not rigid or uniform. She:
- Used many plants she remembered from her New England youth—some of which had become less common in modern landscaping—making the plantings distinctive and beautiful.
- Incorporated plants already growing around the old Holderness Inn into the design.
- Positioned features like the pergola at an angle to create a slightly whimsical, nature‑mimicking feel.
She specified exactly how many of each plant she wanted and where to place them. Many plants for the upper garden were donated by Science Center members in response to detailed plant lists. Volunteers and staff brought Sunny, who was in poor health at the time, to the site so she could oversee planting and direct the work.
Built and sustained by community
Construction of Kirkwood Gardens was truly a community effort. Highlights include:
- Stonework installed by AmeriCorps volunteers, with granite donated by Swenson Granite and additional materials purchased by the Science Center.
- The pergola, steps, and benches funded by individual donors.
A grant written by trustee George Carr that brought the New Hampshire Landscape Gardeners Association to take on Kirkwood Gardens as their annual nonprofit project. Under the leadership of Hayden McLaughlin of Belknap Landscape Company, landscapers and nurseries from across the state filled the lower garden with plants in a single remarkable workday in 1996.
Since then, the gardens have been cared for by Squam Lakes Natural Science Center staff and many volunteers. Over time, Kirkwood Gardens has become a source of pride in Holderness, a place where visitors return season after season to walk, paint, practice tai chi, or simply sit in a beautiful, quiet space.
As Brenda Erler, former Gardens and Exhibits Assistant liked to say, Kirkwood Gardens is a “sanctuary for the soul.”
Kirkwood Gardens is generously sponsored by:
Visiting Kirkwood Gardens
- Open daily, free of charge
- No reservations required
- Please park behind Kirkwood Gardens on Central House Road
- Gardens are located next to the historic Holderness Inn along Route 3
Kirkwood Gardens is an ideal stop for:
- Visitors looking for New Hampshire public gardens or botanical gardens near me that are informal, intimate, and close to home
- Gardeners seeking ideas about mixing native and non‑native plants to attract birds and pollinators
- Families and individuals who simply need a quiet, beautiful place to relax outdoors
Learn More about Gardening
Listen to Homegrown NH
Together, Emma Erler, Kirkwood Gardens Lead Horticulturist and Exhibits Assistant, and Jessica Hunt, NHPR Senior Producer and Host, co‑host Homegrown NH, a weekly NHPR segment with quick, practical gardening tips.
From proper watering to vegetable garden basics, gardeners of all experience levels can find advice to fit their needs.
Listen live on Saturdays at 8:35 a.m. or catch recaps on NHPR’s website.
