‘Commitment to the public good’

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SANDPOINT – The hope that inspired the community of Sandpoint to create the Healing Garden has recently been recognized in a new book titled, “Building from the Best of the Northern Rockies.” The coffee-table-styled book has been produced by The Sonoran Institute of Bozeman, in partnership with Montana State University.

Between the covers are incredible photos and descriptions of various projects from Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Working with an advisory team of land-use planners, architects, builders, developers, conservationists, wildlife biologists and elected officials, institute members spent in excess of 18 months defining the best development practices and finding examples of them within the region.

“We feel that the diverse case studies in the book should give us hope for the future of quality development in the region,” said Sonoran Institute project director Dennis Glick.

The Institute felt that the Healing Garden was both elegant and “demonstrated a profound commitment to the public good.” The members of the advisory board were particularly impressed by the volunteer spirit of the community and the vision that integrated “the natural environment that defined the banks of Sand Creek prior to Sandpoint’s development.”

The Sonoran Institute celebrated the book’s release on April 20 with a special awards dinner and reception at the Emerson Cultural Center. Linda Plaster, chairwoman for the garden, accepted the award for the Healing Garden on behalf of Bonner General Hospital and the Bonner Community Hospice.

Gene Tomt, former CEO of Bonner General Hospital, first introduced the idea of a garden in January 2003. A quarter-acre lot of the hospital grounds adjacent to the Bonner Community Hospice was dedicated to become the Healing Garden.

At that time, Hospice director Debra Kellerman headed the committee with volunteers from the hospital, the hospice and the community. The garden began to take shape – a waterfall, pond and stream, a heated chapel, a shaded teahouse, a memorial wall, a rose garden, plants to be touched, plants with sweet perfumes – all to create a space for relaxation and renewal.

The walkways within the garden are wide and heated, providing year-round access. Barbara Pressler laid out the design for the plantings. She specifically wanted plants along the walkway that could be touched or whose strong fragrance would delight those using a wheelchair. Valle Novak, Garden committee member, created the rose garden. Now, four years later, the spicy scent of roses drifts on the breeze, lifting the spirit.

By midsummer the Healing Garden is in full bloom. Within the shade of the teahouse you may sit on a bench resting your vision on the slow current of Sand Creek or feasting on the riot of color within the garden – peach, blue, red, lavender flowers in competition for your attention.

From dawn until dusk you may seek solitude within the chapel. A small building of shaped concrete, stained glass, heavy wood and rock, the chapel reminds you that though life continually cycles, love is permanent. An eternal flame burns steadily. A guest book captures the thoughts of those who visit, those who grieve, and those who hope.

Funding for the initial garden project came in the form of a loan from Bonner General Hospital. Through diligent fundraising efforts, in-kind donations, and the many volunteers to keep the cost down, the garden committee has made the final payment on the loan. They are now looking toward future plans for the garden.

“We’ve always intended to have a children’s garden,” said Kellerman. The space has been set aside and now the committee is looking for ways to raise the money and make the children’s garden a reality.

One way money is being raised is Weeding Wednesdays. People from around the community have paid this summer to attend miniseminars on various topics and then help out in a section of the garden. Even though the plants were selected in part for their low upkeep, weeds are a continual challenge and are tackled entirely by community volunteers.

In October tickets will go on sale for the Holiday Home Tour. This annual fundraising event typically takes place the first or second weekend in December. Members of the Sandpoint community decorate their homes for the holidays and then open them to the public for tour. All proceeds benefit the Healing Garden.

Kellerman stressed the important feature of the Healing Garden is how it gives back to the people who visit.

“This isn’t the Hospice’s garden,” said Kellerman. “It belongs to our entire community.