Like never before, the future of our world and its inhabitants depend on people coming together to work out peaceful solutions for our collective challenges. We can all play a part in this and shape the world we live in. One way towards accomplishing this is to set aside places dedicated for such actions. Outdoor spaces filled with natural beauty are especially appropriate as these landscapes restore the soul and create the perfect settings for purposeful reflection towards positive change.
A special place within the Vallarta Botanical Garden has recently been awarded the distinction of Mexico’s International Peace Garden by decision of the International Peace Garden Foundation. The mayors of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes jointly applied for this recognition for their peacefully integrated communities and selected the Vallara Botanical Garden as their chosen physical location of this International Peace Garden. The selection took into account both the Vallarta Botanical Garden’s award-winning beauty and its successful leadership in bringing together people of different nationalities and cultures for peaceful activities.
The first public event in this new space is scheduled for Monday, January 16, 2017 (2:00 – 3:00 pm) as “Sharing Peace” — a time of reflection and setting peaceful intentions for the New Year and beyond. All are welcome. Musicians, clergy of all faiths, and community leaders are particularly invited to contact Garden staff and volunteers about helping with the activities that afternoon.
The dedication event is scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2017 (2:00 – 4:00 pm). It will be a time to recognize the power and potential of our individual and collective actions to bring positive change to our communities and our world. It will specifically
acknowledge the welcoming and inviting communities of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes as models for Mexico and the world.
Distinguished guests for the February 16 dedication include:
– Officials from the International Peace Garden Foundation
– The mayors of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes
– Garden management and Board representatives
– Cheryl L. Wheeler, the lead patron of this newly landscaped addition to the Vallarta Botanical Garden
The Vallarta Botanical Garden’s new International Peace Garden adorns the slope that rises toward the entrance to the recently completed multi-faith chapel, Nuestra Señora del Jardín (Our Lady of the Garden). It will feature plants of the Mediterranean and the
Holy Land along with Mexican wildflowers. The intention is to use plants to acknowledge the geographical region that gave birth to several of the leading world religions and to grow these together in harmony with each other and with Mexico’s lovely native species
as well.
The Vallarta Botanical Garden is already known as a place of calm, solace, and healing of body, mind and soul. Now a special sanctum is designated within the Garden’s grounds to provide a secluded setting for undisturbed contemplation, meditation or prayer – a
place in which the seeds for international peace can be sown and cultivated – an International Peace Garden.
