Gardens

Grace Church is surrounded by an acre of gardens. Here, congregants and visitors experience a sense of stepping into another world, a space not bound by busyness but rather, a place that offers tranquility and quiet.

The garden was planted using the “motel theory,” when one plant checks out another plant checks in. Every year there are blooms from Kiss-Me-at-the-Gate in winter, then early quince and on though the seasons.

The garden has areas for contemplation, and for celebration. The areas and “rooms” for contemplation are more private, the vistas enclosed and serene. Shaded areas are intimate and small benches provide a place to seek and encounter God in solitude or to share a quiet moment with a friend.

Celebration areas include those for casual meetings as well as organized events. An expansive front lawn adds visual dimension and provides parishioners and visitors a place and view for socializing. Wisteria vines entwine the sheltering arbor over the patio walkway between the Church and the Parish House bestowing a fresh canopy of purple blooms each spring.

Here couples exchange vows at sunset. The pools, fountains and family-sized tree house provide hours of delight and activity for children and their families. Easter Sunday, as families gather for worship, the gardens cradle brightly colored eggs for the children to find.

The Blessing of the Animals brings neighbors together with an eclectic mix of God’s creatures and the peaceful graveyard is a place of respite and remembrance.