PLANTING OUR GARDENS

It was hard work shoveling and raking and sweeping and digging to bring the landscape to lush life. Some of the helpers were Nathalie Prettyman, Joanie Keller, Nancy Morgan (Norbu), Sandra Wetzel, Shirley Lawyer-Hillman, Edeltraud Muroki, Jake Myers, Valerie Muroki, David Kennedy, Toni Angel, Preston Chase, and Phyliss Douglas. Many of the volunteers weren't part of the KSC sangha before this temple was built. Our community has grown rapidly with so many new faces and helping hands.

Other helpers were Clay Colley, Dwight Van Reeth, Kathleen Meagher,
and Joannie Keller-Hand

Strawberry Tree, above

Sandra David on right.
Devon Ward-Thommes is wearing the white hat.
Often the view was of backsides as folks bent and dug.

TREE PLANTING

Saturday November 6 was overcast. It didn't stop over 35 people
from rolling up their sleeves and digging into the dirt to plant trees.

Jim Olson, above, placed the tiles beneath him.

Here he is working in front of the temple to make a post to hold a stupa.

Laurie., on the left, is the landscape designer.

At the end of the day, above, the fig tree looks hardy.

This tree is planted in front of the downstairs part of the building

Railing was Painted This Morning by Volunteers

Clay Colley, top right
Wetlands also can be seen to the right.

Joanna, above

A Rain Garden is Being Prepared

Eventually rain from the roof will water the gardens and drain,
if necessary, into the adjoining wetlands.

Lama Pema Clark has supervised the construction and design of
every phase of the temple.
Her commitment to sustainable, ecological building
is demonstrated throughout.

"Magic" Stones

Crystals and rocks regularly appear anonymously in the gardens.

The neighboring wetlands show in the background of the above photo.

Stupa Added to the front of the Temple

Lama Chodrak, the executive director of the worldwide Kagyu Monlam (prayer festival), has made a generous gift of a fully consecrated stupa to KSC. The stupa was made by Richard Jackson and Monica Martinez of Questa, New Mexico, and the Lamas were able to bring it back to KSC at the end of their retreat. Clay Colley and Tom Stammers are finishing it with the traditional painted decorations. It will stand in the center of the stone mandala of the front patio when complete.

The Stupa can be seen on the far left.

ACCORDING TO THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITTANICA:
Buddhist stupas were originally built to house the earthly remains
of the historical Buddha and his associates and
are almost invariably found at sites sacred to Buddhism.
The concept of a relic was afterward extended to include sacred texts.
Miniature stupas and pagodas are also used
by Buddhists throughout Asia as votive offerings.