The Zoar Garden was the Separatist's most public manifestation of their faith, its religious symbolism masked by its lush beauty. It provided both residents and visitors with a place to relax and reflect. This "lustgarden," or pleasure garden and the accompanying greenhouse were mentioned by travelers as early as 1829. Although some vegetables and fruits were grown here, the garden was filled mainly with flowers.

The Zoar Garden represented the New Jerusalem as described in Revelation 21. The center tree is Christ, or the Tree of Life, surrounded by a hedge representing Heaven. The surrounding twelve trees represent the apostles. The radiating paths are the paths people walk in life, and the path around the Garden perimeter is the World. To get to Heaven, believers had to look toward Christ.