Scott & White’s Healing Garden, nestled into a spot behind the North Tower of the Center for Advanced Medicine, offers a peaceful place for visitors and staff to soak up the sun when it’s cool or sit in the shade when it’s hot.

The Healing Garden at Scott & White was a long, thought–out process . . . going back about 10 years, said Dr. Alfred Knight, president and CEO of Scott & White.

“It’s one of the most exciting parts of the new Scott & White,” he said, during a dedication ceremony Tuesday.

Visitors to the garden have only to look down to realize the memories of others are present. Interspersed along the paths are bricks in honor of the best big sister, a mom, in memory of a loving grandmother and others - all donated by Scott & White employees.

In all, more than 700 employees in 41 departments raised $120,000 for the project, said Nancy Birdwell, chief development officer at Scott & White.

Providing balance to patients and the staff who care for those patients, plays a role at the medical center . . . there’s more than the science and technology, which is fabulous and state–of–the– art, Knight said. Healing includes the family, the staff and environment.

Scott & White’s newest facilities have, through its color schemes and design, attempted to bring the outside inside and create privacy, support and assurance, he said.

“That environment will help our patients get back to health or make transitions that are also part of what we do every day,” Knight said.

The 15,000–square–foot garden cost $1.1 million and the staff contributed a lot to the effort, he said.

The garden will continue to grow, Knight said, but the simplicity of the space will remain - maintaining a sense of tranquility, release and relief.

The garden also includes water features and sculptures.

The Kilgore Angel, located at the north end of the garden, was donated by Jane Kilgore in honor of her husband Joe Madison Kilgore, a former member of the hospital’s board of trustees. It was sculpted by Sharon Connally Amman of Austin.

Some art in the garden are works in progress, including a bed of large river rocks that will, in time, have water running through the smooth stones, reminiscent of a spring.

Crystal Fisher, a local artist, donated a large rock inscribed with a poem written by a physician who served as a missionary in China.

The garden elements offer a healing environment, Knight said. Visitors should have a sense of being alone, yet also surrounded.

jgibbs@temple-telegram.com