Kennedy's Country Gardens

In January 2025, we said goodbye to Robert “Bob” Kennedy after 86 meaningful years as a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, volunteer, business owner, landscape designer boss and golf buddy. Link to Bob’s obituary.

Bob’s story is rooted in hard work, family, and flowers—planted early in life and grown with care into a beloved local institution: Kennedy’s Country Gardens.

For over six decades, Kennedy’s has been more than just a nursery. At its heart, it’s been a place of care, craftsmanship, and connection—shaped by the dedication and vision of Robert Kennedy.

Robert took immense pride in every corner of Kennedy’s. Every pebble in its place. Grounds meticulously weeded. Every plant selected with intention. His passion for excellence ensured that our plants thrived, our team stayed knowledgeable, and our customers always felt supported.

Bob’s Roots

Bob grew up in Watertown. His interest in landscaping and a growing passion for plants led him to a job at the Waltham Field Station, where he cared for plant trials and worked with species like Dianthus. That experience lit a fire in him and he ultimately landed at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass Amherst, where he majored in Floriculture and joined the Alpha Tau Gamma fraternity, forming friendships and professional connections that lasted a lifetime.

While Bob was in his final year at Stockbridge, his grandfather Alexander noticed a small roadside nursery for sale on Route 3A in Scituate. Alexander had recently retired to nearby Cedar Acres Road in Marshfield—“over the bridge and around the corner”—and saw the nursery as a perfect opportunity for his grandson. At the time, Bob didn’t have the money, the experience, or the confidence to run a nursery. But Alexander believed in him. Along with Bob’s college roommate—whose family owned Skillins Greenhouses in Maine—they gave Bob the encouragement and guidance to take the leap. He even attended a Skillins open house in the greenhouse to get a better feel for the business.

With Alexander’s help, Bob purchased the nursery from the Rodgers family before graduating. In 1960 “Kennedy’s Country Farm Gardens” was a modest nursery. Bob was one of 3-4 employees when he started. It was a true nursery with most of the plants grown in the ground right here on the property. Over the years Bob and countless amazing employees worked tireless hours to transform Kennedy’s into what it is today. Sadly, Alexander suffered a stroke shortly after and never got to witness what Bob would make of the opportunity he’d provided.

Bob’s Lasting Legacy

Even the birds at the nursery knew him by name—”Hello, Bob.” To customers and staff, he was Bob. To family, he was Uncle Bob or Grampi. And if someone called the store asking for “Robert,” family and staff knew to just take a message, it was probably a cold call ……they clearly don’t know Bob.

Bob built Kennedy’s with grit, vision, and heart. He inspired countless team members, served thousands of customers, and helped create beautiful outdoor spaces across the region. There is not a spring that goes by that a customer doesn’t tell Chris how his dad landscaped their yard. And many of the original plants are still growing. What grew at Kennedy’s was far beyond what Bob could have ever imagined in 1960. Bob cherished his relationships he built with suppliers, peers, employees and customers – many of which became friends.

Bob’s passion for the nursery & landscape business went beyond Kennedy’s. Bob volunteered on several beautification committees at the golf courses he was a member and communities he lived in. Upon retirement he volunteered at the Naples Botanical Gardens. Bob had a continuous passion for learning. Bob passed his love for the industry to his only child Christopher. Chris slowly took over the business after graduating Penn State University in the mid-1990’s. Bob and Chris worked together for years at the nursery. Both were Presidents of the the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association and they traveled and attended many conferences and industry educational events and seminars.

Kennedy’s Country Gardens remains a family-run business, built on the same values Bob lived by: hard work, community, integrity, and a love of nature. Chris learned a lot of what he knows from his dad. He hopes to create a native plant garden at Kennedy’s in his honor to ensure his legacy continues. In addition, to honor Bob’s commitment to non-stop learning in the green industry, we are establishing a scholarship at South Shore Vocational Technical High School, supporting students who share his passion for hard work, horticulture, and craftsmanship. Just as Robert gave so much to this community, we hope this gift will help future generations flourish in the fields he loved.

MORE INFORMATION & TO APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP