Belvedere Gardens

One of the highlights of the semester for me was our trip to Belvedere Gardens. As I said during class afterwards, cemeteries usually freak me out, but this one was different. We were told it was modeled after European mausoleums that focus on celebrating the deceased life, instead of traditional American lawn cemeteries that are dull and dreadful. The design of the mausoleum mimicked the surrounding landscape, making it feel natural to be there. It also featured warm, earthy colors that inspired comfort, instead of the gray tombstones that have become a symbol of decay and death.