More than 430 Buddha statues have been completed at Ewam Montana in Arlee. Their goal is to have 1,000 finished and placed by the fall of 2011 for the opening of the garden. If all goes as planned His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will attend the dedication ceremony.

Georgia Milan of Florence, standing left to right, Christ Riebe of Arlee, and John Schumpert of Missoula, take part in a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony on Sunday at Ewan Montana in Arlee.

The site of the future Garden of 1,000 Buddhas at sunrise on Sunday in Arlee, Mont. The garden is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2011 with a visit from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Kelsey Bourn of SeattleÊtakes part in a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony on Sunday at Ewan Montana in Arlee. Bourn first met Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche in Nepal. When she learned of his visit to Montana she decided to come to Arlee.

Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche visits Ewan Montana on Sunday. Rinpoche established the center in 1999. He is also responsible for the idea behind the Garden of 1,000 Buddhas and for inviting the Dalai Lama to visit when the garden is complete.

More than 430 Buddha statues have been completed at Ewam Montana in Arlee. Their goal is to have 1,000 finished and placed by the fall of 2011 for the opening of the garden. If all goes as planned His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will attend the dedication ceremony