After a three year makeover, a jewel of Westchester County New York, the Donald M. Kendall Gardens at PepsiCo, has finally re-opened.
Donald M. Kendall, former chairman of the board and CEO, conceived the gardens which bear his name. He imagined an atmosphere of stability and creativity. The sculpture collection was started in 1965 and consists of works by major twentieth century artists. Russell Page, the internationally famous garden designer, cultivated the corporate grounds into an arboretum transforming the gardens into a work of art. The sculptures and gardens exist in harmony on a carefully maintained landscape.
Some of my fondest memories of my son Marcus' earliest years are in these incredible gardens. I pushed his baby carriage along the meandering paths during my maternity leave and well after into his childhood. When he could walk, Marcus would roam these paths and run with abandon on this carpet of velvet grass, exploring the sculptures and expending his energy. And now that he will soon be a father, I have high hopes seasoned with those precious memories, that I will again push that baby carriage along those same paths.
Here you can encounter some of the finest works by David Smith, Henry Moore, Jean Dubuffet and Alexander Calder, to name just a few. While touching is not allowed, running around and through these enormous structures or playing hide and go seek in one of the varied ecosystems that the gardens contain, will delight a child of any age. One of my favorites is the tall pine forest that evokes my memories of the American Northwest,and includes totems from the Native Americans of that same region.
The Kendall Gardens are open to the pubic on weekends only, from April through October from 10AM to 5PM. Unleash your inner child (but no doggies allowed) pack a picnic and take some time to explore. I promise you will see me there next April, pushing that baby carriage once again.
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