Caroline Rose Hunt was honored with the Founder’s Award from the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum at a program on Wednesday, January 21 at the Dallas Arboretum.

Caroline Rose Hunt has been closely associated with The Dallas Arboretum all her life. She grew up directly across the lake from what is now The Dallas Arboretum, at the beautiful Mount Vernon, in the home of her parents H. L. and Lyda Bunker Hunt.

In the early days of the Arboretum, she and her sister and brothers gave the money to build the Paseo de Flores, the Walkway of Flowers and named it for their mother, Lyda Bunker Hunt.

A major supporter of the garden for many years, The Dallas Arboretum approached her in 2011, to ask her permission in having her name attached to the garden’s major donor society, for those making contributions of $10,000 or more. Since she agreed to give her name to this group, it has grown to over $600,000 a year.

Attending each dinner and private event for this group and of course other Arboretum events, she always enthusiastically voices her support for our garden. She indeed is so beloved, a special rose bush was created and named for her by the Arboretum.

Through the Rosewood Foundation she and her family have also given an important permanent educational area, the Dripping Springs Trail in the Wetlands area of the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden in the name of her son, Bunker Sands.

Yet Caroline’s passion for the garden seemingly never ends, with her willingness to give a program for the Women’s Council members recently with her daughter and granddaughters.

“How lucky we are to have had her support continuously from our beginning days and now to be able to share with others that significant monies given in the name of her society have helped The Dallas Arboretum achieve record heights and international recognition,” said presenter Sue Ringle.

“It only seems right that she be named this year our winner for the Founders Award of the Women’s Council of The Dallas Arboretum.”

Photos by Chuck Clark