I have traveled the world
and visited gardens large and small, royal and rural.
Seldom has my heart been so touched as by the garden
I found behind Grace Episcopal Church in tiny Mt.Meigs,
Alabama. The church was dedicated in 1889 after the
building was interrupted in the 1860's by the Civil
War.
The exquisite simplicity of the white frame Gothic church
gives way to a series of garden rooms carved into the
natural vegetation of the surrounding woods. There are
covered alleys of ancient brick pavers which open to
brick reflecting ponds crowned by Della Robia plaques
of the Madonna. Sitting and dining rooms appear in the
shadow of the lush foliage. Trickling fountains play
in the bowers of jasmine, rose and banana shrub.
The parishioners of old are buried on the church grounds,
Their grave stones are covered in yellow iris, red poppies
and roses.The gothic iron tracery arbor in the center
of the cemetery is draped with fragrant old world pink
roses. Then at the very back of the garden, the trees
open to frame an immense classical iron urn on a crumbling
brick pedestal.
This is truly one of the loveliest and most peaceful
spots I have ever stumbled upon.
