By Marty Basch

For some, life's journey leads to a sculpture garden of wood and stone on the banks of the Connecticut River.

At the Path of LIfe Garden in Windsor, step through a dark tunnel beneath an active train track and onto a 14-acre field with an 800-tree hemlock maze, thin heavenly bound birches, a lazy brookside hammock and hulking dead maples that represent a stage of life.

"The whole garden is about the circle of life," says Norwich therapist Terry McDonnell as he walked along the mowed pathways. McDonnell and family built the garden, located between Simon Pearce glass blowers and the Harpoon Brewery off Route 5,  after an inspirational trip to Ireland's Life of Man Japanese Garden.

Some hobby

What sprouted as a hobby some 10 years ago is a work-in-progress and has grown into a place of meditation and inspiration in 18 distinct "rooms" (or stations) expressing life from birth to death, and even re-birth.

LIfe's branches, paths, dead-ends and plateaus are reflected during the self-guided tour. Meaning is different for each visitor as some can breeze through in 15 minutes while others stay for hours.

The paths wind through life's various stages of birth to adventure, learning to hope, creativity to community.  A single stone surrounded by herbs and a ring of Stonehenge-like rocks express birth. Adventure follows and is displayed in the circular maze of hemlocks brightly green in spring with its bell in the center rung by those who make it to the middle. The lone white oak atop the Hill of Learning is the Tree of Wisdom with its nuts containing knowledge. Colorful prayer wheels, much like those from the Tibetan culture, can be spun and reflect hope.

Towering driftwood sculptures - the wood culled from northern California's Russian River - of a band show creativity. The amphitheater setting is used in summer for bonfires and drumming sessions. You can sleep in a tee-pee too.

Stoned

Two stones topped with cairns separated by a large circular rock show union with a path leading to  benches for family. One of life's monumental choices is parenthood and for those who don't have children a branch path leads to two stones: a niece and a nephew.

A circle of Easter Island-esque statues represent community while a path to a single stone under trees conveys solitude. Some climb the hill of ambition, near a trio of McDonnell's beehives, while others walk around it. A stark teepee embodies sorrow. Tall birches transported from Georgia and surrounded by raspberry and blueberry bushes to munch in season encapsulate forgiveness in a tranquil setting.

Peaceful

A side path to a small bridge and hammock signal respite, a peaceful place to listen to the water.  Visitors leave small mementos by a Buddha statue across from a stone maze path signifying contemplation.  A band of decaying maple trees show death while re-birth is captured in a fenced chapel of wispy trees.

"This is like therapy without the therapist," says the therapist.

One Tank Away

Windsor is:

*162 miles from Lake Placid, N.Y.

*101 miles from Freedom, N.H.

*220 miles from Pleasantville, N.Y.