Cathedral of the Pines... has flowers too
By Jeanne Prevett Sable
By Jeanne Prevett Sable
If you are among the hundred thousand or so visitors to New Hampshire’s
Cathedral of the Pines this season, you will find more than pine trees to catch
your eye and warm your heart.
Poised on the brink of a lofty knoll facing New Hampshire's Mount
Monadnock, the 2,000-seat cathedral is unbounded by walls. Its only pillars are
living pines, and its broad, domed ceiling is heaven itself.
Lt. Sanderson ("Sandy") Sloane had chosen this peaceful vista in the town of
Rindge as the future home for him and his bride, Peggy Allen Sloane. But that
dream was dashed in February 1944, when the young B-17 pilot was shot down
over Germany during World War II. Wishing to share their son's affinity for
this spot, Sandy's parents, Dr. Douglas and Sibyl Sloane, dedicated the
Cathedral of the Pines there as a shrine in his memory.
In 1957, Congress recognized the shrine’s Altar of the Nation as the "first
memorial to all men and women who have given their lives in service to this
country." The Women's Memorial Bell Tower at the entrance was dedicated in
1967 as the first memorial to America's female war dead. Today, worshipers of
all faiths flock to the Cathedral seeking solace and spiritual renewal.
Run by a nonprofit organization supported entirely by private donations, the
Cathedral is open between May and November, and hosts weddings and
baptisms as well as memorial, religious and patriotic services. It also offers a
gift shop, museum, and the Cathedral House Bed and Breakfast, with rooms
available for receptions, retreats and meetings.
Among its most recent attractions
are trial gardens being grown
to test the performance of various
plant species at this unique
location, which is affected
by high altitude, windy
conditions, and hungry deer.
Over 900 spring flowering bulbs
planted last fall are preparing
to bloom as you read. While
it’s hard to predict whether
the yellow ribbon of 250 daffodils planted in the flagpole garden to welcome
returning troops, or the hedge of lilacs below the altar will be in blossom for
the well-attended Memorial Day service on May 30, gardeners are sure to be
inspired by the array of well-chosen plants that grace the grounds and line the
pathways throughout this peaceful complex.
A Zen meditation garden offers a place for silent reflection in honor of all who
lost their lives in World War II. It includes a delicate bamboo screen,
blossoming cherry tree, and stones painted in Kanji characters by a local
second grade class.
Visitors may pay respects to loved ones at the remembrance garden, amble
along a well groomed pathway to a waterfall at the Mother’s Chapel, or gaze
up at St. Francis Garden, where benches and stone walls beckon. “I call that
one my challenge garden,” says Garden Manager Barbara Hadsell, because it
gets half a day of sun only in the summer. Another challenge is the variation in
climate zones that shift from one garden to the next. Yet, many non-native
species unusual to the area thrive here, like the five-foot Yucca that bloomed
for the first time last year, or the tulip poplar memorial tree.
“We’re open to all faiths and species,” Cathedral Board Chairman Jed
Brummer said with a grin. Brides particularly appreciate the careful planning
that has gone into plantings near the altar, where bright colors might clash with
wedding apparel or bouquets and cut flower arrangements. Instead, the
Cathedral’s crew of Master Gardeners and other volunteers have planted
ground cover foliage plants with white flower accents. Come see for yourself.
The Cathedral of the Pines is located off Rte. 119, a few miles east of Rte. 202.
Follow the signs upon entering Rindge, NH.
Information:
Cathedral of the Pines
10 Hale Hill Rd,
Rindge, NH 03461
(603)899–3300
(603)899–3311 (fax)
(866)229–4520 (toll–free)
www.cathedralpines.com
Click here for lodging near the Cathedral of the Pines
About the author:
Jeanne Prevett Sable is an organic vegetable gardener and author of
Seed Keepers of Crescentville
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