A Walk Outside at Recreation, Continued

This is the second half of the article from the Rosary Pilgrim originally posted here, describing a walk through the monastery grounds.

Again we are in the lane walking toward the rear of the garden. On the left we pass quince, pear and apricot trees, also bushes of gooseberry, raspberry and blackberry. Beyond these the ground has been plowed and seeded. There is a large patch of small white flowers which on approaching you recognize as strawberry blossoms.

The oratory (old carriage house) is to the right, and the hot-house to the left. In this later picture, the flower garden has become a bit overgrown!

This is just a portion of the extensive gardens which used to run along the enclosure wall which borders the train tracks.

Behind the oratory, on the right, is a great circular bed of sweet-scented lily-of-the-valley already in bloom. Then comes the hot-house, where many young vegetable and flower plants are waiting to be transplanted to the garden. On leaving a few peach trees and hot beds are seen on the right, and on the left an extensive vegetable garden.

The old cottage can be seen in the background beyond what later became the cemetery. By the time of this photograph, the old barn had already been torn down.

Farther on we reach the barn and cottage which are used chiefly as a storage house. Some yards away is a long low building, the chicken house, with eight large runs wired off from the rest of the garden. As it is evening all the feathered occupants have gone to roost, with the exception of three perched high up in the branches of the plum trees, which together with several pines, afford shade in the runs.

As we continue our walk we pass under apple trees and here and there a giant oak or towering elm. On the left of the chicken house is a large cement basin which was once used as a duck pond. The willow bends its weeping branches along its side and a small duck house stands at the head. The duck house too is empty. This is at the rear extremity of the garden. As we come up the narrow path, suddenly a squirrel runs up the Trinity Oak (the name given to one of the great oaks because of its three trunks). But the rodent does not long remain a novelty, for both squirrels and wild rabbits frequently cross our way. You are now facing a broad regular area, surrounded by a low cement wall and high iron framework. It reminds one of a tennis court and so it formerly was, but has been changed into a vegetable garden. A little grove of golden-tipped arborvitae leads to the court and at its entrance two catalpas form a canopy. The rambler and honeysuckle climb its walls and framework.

There are many small white wooden box—like arrangements here and there. Each is a busy little home, where thousands of bees are diligently doing their wonderful work. A few bees that have arrived late are buzzing around the hive. Of course these are the manufactories of Rosary Shrine honey.

While in the article the duck pond described was not in use, later on the monastery kept a number of farm animals, including this cow, a lamb, and ducks once again.

Bee hives! These hives were placed in a different location than described above, nearer to the current monastery building.

The summer house described by the Sisters is the same summer house which we still use today, although it has undergone repairs many times over the course of its life.

A short distance from the grove is St. Dominic’s Shelter, an artistic rustic house wherein the Sisters recreate during the summer. The ivy and wisteria climb its sides, while pansy and achillea beds surround it.

Leaving the summer house we move under a rambler arch to a narrow path leading to the house. On the right are peony bushes, poppies, phlox and other flowers; beyond these the grape vines form a kind of barrier. On the left is the vegetable garden and now and then we are met by cherry, pear and apple trees. At the end of the path, near the steps ascending the terrace, we again pass beneath umbrella—like catalpas.

Presently Reverend Mother is seen directing her steps towards the entrance of the monastery; we know it is time to go in, so all follow.