In any organization, people come and go. They may stay for a short time or for an extended career. It doesn’t really matter how long they stay, because it’s not longevity that people will remember. It’s the impact they had. Did they leave a mark on the organization?

Well, Annie Higgins has definitely left her mark on Bullington Gardens. John Murphy is considered by many to be the father of Bullington Gardens. He brought Bullington to new levels of prominence. John, however, had a vision that Bullington should have a dedicated administrative director separate from the educational programming duties.

After a long search, Annie Higgins was selected to fill that role. She hit the ground running and never stopped. But Annie will retire at the end of November after five years on the job. Her time there may have been short, but what a difference she has made. Bullington will never be the same because of the work that Annie has done to take the facility to new heights and greater prominence. Bullington is recognized far and wide for its programs and horticultural excellence.

One of Annie’s greatest accomplishments was to purchase the property where Bullington resided. The facility was owned by the Henderson County Education Foundation and leased to Bullington. Annie negotiated a purchase agreement and even procured donors to pay for the property. Bullington is now a privately owned 501(c)(3) entity that is open to the public. What an accomplishment for an organization that was living on rented land for so many years!

Fundraising has been a hallmark of Annie’s stay at Bullington. She has increased the fundraising dramatically, allowing the garden to continue to grow and provide even more opportunities for the public and local organizations. During her time, Annie helped develop a strategic plan for the garden and a master plan for development of the grounds.

No, Annie won’t be around to see the completion of that Master Plan, but she got it off to a great start. The gardens have added better parking facilities, and for the first time, the gardens have a public restroom available to visitors. That may not sound too grand, but it was desperately needed. Bullington now has a larger paid staff to support the garden’s activities. Annie has made it possible to have several part-time employees who handle administrative office duties, gardening, horticultural education, and building maintenance. Without Annie’s prolific fundraising and grant writing, this would not be possible.There have been many other improvements initiated by Annie, including renovations to the main building, greenhouse, and walking paths, which have made them all more accessible. Everywhere you turn at Bullington, you can be reminded of the mark Annie has made on this hidden gem off Howard Gap Road.

Unfortunately, Bullington was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene. The Fairy Trail was destroyed, and the gardens had a swath of trees down all throughout the gardens. Annie flew into action and soon had volunteers from near and far working to clean up the gardens. With limited funds for cleanup, Annie was able to secure the funding and volunteer work needed to put the gardens back in shape. While the scars of Helene are still visible, Annie’s action put the hallowed grounds back in order in time for the spring and summer busy seasons.

Her marketing efforts have brought more attention and more visitors to the garden, and it is more popular than ever. The Fairy Trail brings almost 1,000 visitors each year. Through their web page, social media, and articles in several prominent publications, Annie has raised awareness and consequently the support for Bullington in her time there.

Bullington is in the best place it has ever been. Annie has done everything that John Murphy envisioned she would do, and more. While John will always be remembered as the one who cobbled together a struggling organization to build a viable entity, Annie will be remembered for taking it all to the next level.

Annie has left behind a legacy at Bullington Gardens that will always be part of its fabric. She will be missed, but her work there will live on as long as Bullington stands.

Best wishes, Annie, for an immensely enjoyable retirement!