The gardens south of the main structure of the church are lovely at any time of the year.  The next time you wander there, take a moment to see how they are organized and for what purposes. 

The path that leads from the plaza to the labyrinth represents our daily lives and the various elements along the way are symbols of how our Christian faith intersects.  The pergola has two purposes: to act as a gateway, framing the view of the central water feature, and to provide an outdoor classroom.  Overlaid on the walk is the cruciform shape with several short paths leading to benches for quiet reflection.  Brian Koenigberg, who designed the hardscape, created spaces for four different garden concepts:  butterfly, prairie, fragrant and alpine.

At the center of this contemplative prayer garden is a monolithic stone water feature.  The stone, quarried from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, is 15 feet tall (including what is buried in the ground) and weighs 6 tons. It’s intended to make us feel small in relation to God’s influence in our lives. 

At the end of the path is the labyrinth, a 1.000-square-foot area where we can walk in meditative prayer in a centuries-old tradition.  The space can also be used as an intimate setting for gatherings such as weddings.

The landscape’s gardens were designed by Pam Johnston, who has led the garden club for the last 10 years.  Perennials and ornamental grasses along the path complement the themed gardens in each quadrant.

The gardens were completed in 2010 as part of the 2008-2010 building project.  Many Montview members have been involved in caring for the gardens. On the second Saturday morning of each month from March to October, the gardening crew gathers and works it magic. 

Plans for gardens along Montview Boulevard are in the works when the current building project is finished. 

 – Submitted by Carol Tierney