Ken and Jill's Gift

Ken and Jill Harrison

A lifetime shared in the Gardens.

Ken’s first visit to the Gardens was in 1954. He remembers wandering around, exploring different collections, and taking in all the plantings. He still has the photos he took that day as a young boy with a box brownie camera slung around his neck.

Jill, for as long as she can remember, has always held a deep love of plants, and nurtured them with ardent care. Some of her bonsai plants are over 40 years old now. “They are part of the family in a way,” she remarks.

“I think that’s why we love the Gardens so much,” says Ken, “they’ve always been part of who we are.”

Ken and Jill have passed on their lifelong affection for plants to their daughters. “When our daughters were young, often we would go walking through the Gardens, looking at the various plants we love. Interestingly, both daughters are now extremely keen and passionate gardeners. So perhaps it has rubbed off,” Jill says.

At Christmas time, the Harrison family tradition is to gather in the Gardens. Ken fondly reflects, “there might be 20 or more of us. We find a nice piece of lawn and share food and laughter. Everyone just loves it so much. It’s a fantastic place to go for families coming together.”

From childhood visitors to Chairman of the Board, the Gardens are a very personal place for Ken and Jill, and an unwavering presence in their life. In celebration of this, Ken and Jill made the decision to leave a gift in their Will to the Gardens.

Whatever you do, whatever you leave to the Gardens is going to be in perpetuity. You add to the landscape. You know that it’s something that will go on giving to other people for a long, long time.

Ken Harrison