In October of 2019, Debra Kandrak had an idea.
A few years earlier she started a memory garden on her property, in honor of loved ones lost.
Daffodils were among the first to bloom, each spring. The yellow bulbs are beautiful — and a welcome sign that new life everywhere is about to explode.
Debra already had hundreds of the flowers. She knew and loved Willowbrook Cemetery’s display on Main Street too.
Willowbrook Cemetery daffodils (Photo/Alina Damian)
But she wanted to see thousands more, all over town. And fall was the right time to plant them.
She started a campaign, called “Paint the Town Yellow.” With support from “06880,” she asked residents, business owners and town officials to participate.
They did — in spades.
Every spring since, Westport has been awash in daffodils. Seeing them on roadsides, in front of businesses, and nearly everywhere else, we can’t help but smile.
Debra does too. And she thinks of her memory garden.
Last September, when Staples High School senior Max Harper died, Debra suggested that daffodils be planted in his memory.
Half a year later, we see the fruits of their labors. New daffodils are joining older perennials, to the joy of us all.
Near the Longshore golf course 1st tee.
In front of the Parks & Recreation office, also at Longshore.
Grace Salmon Park …
… and nearby, on Compo Road South.
North Avenue, across from Staples. (Photo/Jennifer Kobetitsch)
One view of Willowbrook Cemetery, off Main Street … (Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
… and another. (Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
Prospect Road, at Greens Farms Road.
Hillspoint Road.
Riverside Avenue. (All photos/Debra Kandrak, unless otherwise noted)
(As Debra Kandrak and many others paint the town yellow, please click here to send some green to “06880.” Your donation helps us spring ahead, in our daily coverage of Westport. Thank you!)
Beautiful as well as poignant
Thank you Dan, beautifully written. Last fall I asked town residents to plant in memory of Max, many of you reached out telling me that you would plant. Now we need to see where…so please send your photos to Dan and post on Front Porch, let the family see what we did. I planted many more daffodils in my “ Adopt a Spot” on Prospect & Greens Farms Road in his memory.
Debra — what a wonderful meaningful gift to all!! And a terrific way to honor Max’s memory. Thank you. ♥️