Gardens and peaceful areas
The 14 acres of the White Lake United Methodist Church (WLUMC) includes several gardens that serve various purposes as well as quiet spaces for meditation, all of which are available for the community to enjoy. These areas are maintained through the efforts of volunteers, and we welcome anyone who has a desire to garden to lend a hand in their upkeep.
Community Gardens
For information about this ministry visit the Community Gardens page.
Community Gardens
For information about this ministry visit the Community Gardens page.
Memorial Garden
Keith Griffin, an Agriculture teacher at Montague High School and active church member for many years, suggested the raised mound garden concept and the planting of a line of trees on both sides of the West parking lot to act as a future windbreak for the church. His vision came to fruition in the 1970s.
The “Mound Garden”, as it was originally known, was started about 1971 with a $100 gift to the church as a memorial for four people who had passed away.
At some unknown point, the “Mound Garden” became known as the “Memorial Garden. ” Since its creation many volunteers have dedicated their time to maintain the Memorial Garden, in turn, also enhancing the beauty of the church grounds.
Keith Griffin, an Agriculture teacher at Montague High School and active church member for many years, suggested the raised mound garden concept and the planting of a line of trees on both sides of the West parking lot to act as a future windbreak for the church. His vision came to fruition in the 1970s.
The “Mound Garden”, as it was originally known, was started about 1971 with a $100 gift to the church as a memorial for four people who had passed away.
At some unknown point, the “Mound Garden” became known as the “Memorial Garden. ” Since its creation many volunteers have dedicated their time to maintain the Memorial Garden, in turn, also enhancing the beauty of the church grounds.
Natural Habitat Gardens
In 2014 church members formed a “Green Team” to create a more sustainable landscape less dominated by grass and asphalt, and more friendly to birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. In planning for an improved parking lot, this group landed on an environmentally friendly idea that involved the creation of bioswales to capture and naturally filter water runoff from the parking area. Drip irrigation was later added to the bioswales to support the native species between rain events.
The large lawn (now often referred to as a green dessert) surrounding the parking lot was enhanced with a settling basin of native species intended to support aquatic wildlife, and various plantings and garden areas have been added over the past decade. The first of these was the pollinator garden out by our sign. This was planned and planted by a teacher and students from Montague Public Schools.
We also resolved accessibility and runoff issues by raising the west end of the parking lot to the level of the front door, and creating two 200-foot bioswales filled with plants to capture and naturally filter rainwater from the parking area. Native species now fill the bioswales and the gardens surrounding the parking lot, yet the beauty of the flowers is outweighed by the pleasure of witnessing the constant flitting of native critters amongst the flowers. This project is a work in progress as we learn about native versus invasive species, work to outsmart the deer, and add features such as walking areas and benches for resting and reflection.
Although located in the City of Montague, our large parking lot is now recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat and as a Hometown Habitat. Many native insects need native plants to survive. Native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems, and all of us have the power to support habitat for wildlife and bring natural beauty to our patch of the earth.
In 2014 church members formed a “Green Team” to create a more sustainable landscape less dominated by grass and asphalt, and more friendly to birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. In planning for an improved parking lot, this group landed on an environmentally friendly idea that involved the creation of bioswales to capture and naturally filter water runoff from the parking area. Drip irrigation was later added to the bioswales to support the native species between rain events.
The large lawn (now often referred to as a green dessert) surrounding the parking lot was enhanced with a settling basin of native species intended to support aquatic wildlife, and various plantings and garden areas have been added over the past decade. The first of these was the pollinator garden out by our sign. This was planned and planted by a teacher and students from Montague Public Schools.
We also resolved accessibility and runoff issues by raising the west end of the parking lot to the level of the front door, and creating two 200-foot bioswales filled with plants to capture and naturally filter rainwater from the parking area. Native species now fill the bioswales and the gardens surrounding the parking lot, yet the beauty of the flowers is outweighed by the pleasure of witnessing the constant flitting of native critters amongst the flowers. This project is a work in progress as we learn about native versus invasive species, work to outsmart the deer, and add features such as walking areas and benches for resting and reflection.
Although located in the City of Montague, our large parking lot is now recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat and as a Hometown Habitat. Many native insects need native plants to survive. Native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems, and all of us have the power to support habitat for wildlife and bring natural beauty to our patch of the earth.
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Prayer Labyrinth
In 2024 the concept of a Prayer Labyrinth came to fruition as volunteers collected stones and placed pavers to create a series of paths within a portion of lawn southwest of the church.
Walking the labyrinth is seen as a form of active meditation and offers a spiritual journey to those who follow it to its center, symbolizing a union with God.
All from the community are welcome to visit the WLUMC labyrinth and walk its path.
For additional information, you may wish to download the Prayer Labyrinth brochure.
In 2024 the concept of a Prayer Labyrinth came to fruition as volunteers collected stones and placed pavers to create a series of paths within a portion of lawn southwest of the church.
Walking the labyrinth is seen as a form of active meditation and offers a spiritual journey to those who follow it to its center, symbolizing a union with God.
All from the community are welcome to visit the WLUMC labyrinth and walk its path.
For additional information, you may wish to download the Prayer Labyrinth brochure.
Remembrance Garden
Around 2008, church member Diane Kroll approached the Board of Trustees of the Montague United Methodist Church with a request that it explore the possibility of establishing a Remembrance Garden for members of the church who might wish to have either their own, or their loved one’s cremation ashes, buried on church property.
The Trustees agreed to explore Diane’s idea and after examining several sites, a project design, plan, and process was established to create a Remembrance Garden at the Montague United Methodist Church, now the White Lake United Methodist Church. After countless hours of work spent on this project, the first cremation remains were interred in the WLUMC Remembrance Garden in 2014. Since that time, a number of cremains have been anonymously buried in unmarked sites in the Remembrance Garden, including those of the original dreamer Diane Kroll.
The Remembrance Garden is located on the west side of the Welcome Center. If you are a member of WLUMC and are interested in exploring the use of the WLUMC Remembrance Garden as the final resting place of your cremains, you may contact the church office or call (231) 894-4789 for more information.
Wooded Walking Path
The 14-acre grounds of White Lake United Methodist Church include a wooded section just southwest of the church building. Over the years a path has been formed, and all are welcome to take a walk under the canopy and enjoy the nature found there.
Around 2008, church member Diane Kroll approached the Board of Trustees of the Montague United Methodist Church with a request that it explore the possibility of establishing a Remembrance Garden for members of the church who might wish to have either their own, or their loved one’s cremation ashes, buried on church property.
The Trustees agreed to explore Diane’s idea and after examining several sites, a project design, plan, and process was established to create a Remembrance Garden at the Montague United Methodist Church, now the White Lake United Methodist Church. After countless hours of work spent on this project, the first cremation remains were interred in the WLUMC Remembrance Garden in 2014. Since that time, a number of cremains have been anonymously buried in unmarked sites in the Remembrance Garden, including those of the original dreamer Diane Kroll.
The Remembrance Garden is located on the west side of the Welcome Center. If you are a member of WLUMC and are interested in exploring the use of the WLUMC Remembrance Garden as the final resting place of your cremains, you may contact the church office or call (231) 894-4789 for more information.
Wooded Walking Path
The 14-acre grounds of White Lake United Methodist Church include a wooded section just southwest of the church building. Over the years a path has been formed, and all are welcome to take a walk under the canopy and enjoy the nature found there.