MISSION GATE

Seeking refuge from the noise and bustle of a summer’s afternoon, June Carey discovered this peaceful oasis. “After passing under the serene ivy arch,” June says, “I found myself in the haven of a mission garden, where the peace of this exquisite refuge seemed to wash the day’s difficulties away.” What struck June was that despite the serious connotation of a religious sanctuary, the area seethed with the exuberant unpredictability of nature. All this verdant life under the watch of timid saints, combined with the murmur of the garden’s ancient fountain, seemed to betray the smile of God.