At the end of September, 2011, friends and family of Barbara Bush surprised her with a special tribute, a wonderful garden in the heart of Kennebunkport. Inspired by a needlepoint carpet she created in which the initials of her grandchildren were hidden amidst a bed of lovely pastel flowers, "Ganny’s Garden" will now bring that beauty to life. Ganny is the name Barbara Bush is lovingly called by her seventeen grandchildren, and their initials are randomly engraved in the stone walls which surround the garden. In addition, 17 trees have been included in the design, one for each grandchild. Once through a custom made arbor, visitors can follow a stepping-stone pathway past three beds of traditional, colorful flowers, including a rose named after the former first lady. Plaques and bronze features have been created including a copy of her favorite book, "Pride and Prejudice", a pair of her famous mix-matched Keds and her iconic straw sun hat, all positioned as though she had just been there.
We want to make "Ganny’s Garden" and enjoyment for generations of those who will live in or visit Kennebunkport. With your help, we can plant the seeds today for something that will be forever special. Please join us in adding to the beauty of our community even as we honor this special woman.
Special thanks to CA Smith Photography and Robert Dennis for sharing their photographs from the dedication event!