In 2001, Trinity set up small interest groups and Joyce Jackson was asked if she would head up a garden group.

There were approximately 15 to 18 members in the Trinity Garden Group. They had guest speakers, as well as teaching guests and visits to one another’s home gardens and public gardens.

Pastor Jack Longley, our pastor at the time, was speaking to Dave Coleman in front of the church one day and remarked that he had always wanted a rose garden where the oval of junipers and agapanthus were planted.

Dave said, "I can build a large arbor and we can have climbing roses on it and a rose garden." Pastor Jack told him to go through the Trinity Garden Group to see about bringing this proposal to Session.

Each of the members of the garden group submitted their ideas for the garden.

They decided on Dave Coleman’s plans, and Dave and Joyce took the proposal to Session. Session approved the plan, but let them know they would have to come up with the funding. Joyce put up "seed money," and others contributed.

Dave was given scrap lumber from his employer, as he was the superintendent of the Shapell Homes project in Gilroy. Dave called in what he said were "favors," which included heavy equipment and a surveyor to set a line for the footings for the arbor. The whole church got involved clearing the dug up plant material and leveling the area.

Pastor Jack decided he also wanted the front of the church cleared and planted with roses. The garden group decided they needed an area to make a Memorial Garden to help support the garden with remembrance plaques on a wall. They had different designs and compromised on combining several. Joyce took on the task of choosing the right water fountain to be in this area surrounded with benches.

Dave and his step-son, Richard Tinsley, worked nearly every evening and weekends. They also directed volunteers for many weeks: a small group became known as the "Dirty Half Dozen."

Joyce Jackson’s brother-in-law made a gazebo in his backyard for her and her husband’s fiftieth wedding anniversary, in which they renewed their vows. When her sister and husband were moving, they asked if Joyce wanted the gazebo for the church rose garden and she said, "Yes, we do!"

Paul and Doris Coleman were the first to be married in the beautiful gazebo. There have been other weddings as well as renewal of vows in the gazebo.

The Trinity Rose Garden is a great outreach for the entire neighborhood and the many groups that meet at the church.

You will often find people sitting on the benches enjoying the garden. Some come to take pictures in their prom dresses or their first communion outfits and weddings that were held at other places.

Joyce Jackson and others have continued to work and maintain the gardens with over 200 roses and flower beds since 2001. When members and volunteers are working in the garden, there is always someone walking through or sitting on a bench who says how much they love the gardens and comment that the Trinity Rose Garden is such an asset to the neighborhood.