Other Points of Interest

Trees of Mount St. John -Mount St. John facilities (MSJF) has planted and maintains more than 140 unique horticultural tree specimens around the buildings on the property. As you walk the grounds, look for Kentucky coffee tree, Japanese pagoda tree, Kousa dogwood, golden train tree, hardy rubber tree and smoke tree. Staff members are also planting American chestnut trees which have been selectively crossed with the Chinese chestnut to make them resistant to the blight that decimated native populations while retaining the stature of the new world variety. A list of the Arboretum trees of the MSJ is available from MEEC.

Native Plant Labyrinth - the labyrinth is a symbol which has been found in religious traditions for more than 4000 years. Although it superficially resembles a maze, a labyrinth is universal with a single path for meditative walking. During the Middle Ages labyrinths were used as substitutes for dangerous pilgrimages to the holy places. Our labyrinth, modeled on the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France is planted with purple coneflower, little bluestem, rattlesnake master and other native plants. The labyrinth is maintained by MEEC and available for individual or group use by appointment.

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto - modeled after the Lourdes grotto in Massabielle, France, the grotto is constructed with 230 tons of tufa rock (traverture) from the Great Lakes. The original landscaping was planned by George Siebenthaler, and today contains a variety of Mary flowers including columbine. Also featured are specimen tri-color purple beech trees and oak leaf purple beech trees.