Sorrowful Mother Gardens
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The Blessed Mother Mary Garden
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Welcome to the Blessed Mother Mary Garden. This garden is located at the southwest corner in front of the Church. This space was created to provide a place to honor our Blessed Mother Mary. In this garden, you will find various plants and flowers that have a religious tie to the Bible. We invite you to visit this garden and take in its beauty.
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Plants in the Blessed Mother Mary GardenClick on the tabs below to learn more about plants featured in the Sorrowful Mother gardens.
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This plant is a full-sun, perennial vine that blooms from June to September. The flowers on this plant have a very religious meaning behind them. Each part of the flower represents something related to Jesus. The ten petals represent the ten apostles who did not betray Jesus. The seventy- two filaments represent the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head. The five green anthers signify his wounds. The anthers alone represent the sponge used to moisten Jesus’ lips. The three top stigmas represent the nails that nailed Jesus to the cross. The leaves are shaped like a lance and represent the spear thrust into Jesus’ side. A passion flower will bloom and last for 3 days, the same as the time that passed before the Resurrection of Our Lord. Take time to smell the flowers. The smell is said to represent the spices the holy women brought with them on the day of the Resurrection.
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This plant is a full-sun, perennial flower that blooms from late spring to early fall. It is said that when Mary cried, her tears turned into Dianthus’. These flowers can also represent the passion of Christ.
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This flower is a full sun, perennial flower that blooms May through October. The color red symbolizes sorrow and passion. Roses were also mentioned multiple times throughout the bible. The rose in relation to the Blessed Mother displays perfect love, form, fragrance, and color. As the rose is considered the queen of flowers, so Mary is the Queen of Heaven.
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This plant is full sun, a perennial plant that blooms early summer to autumn. These plants symbolize gentleness. Our Christ has that same gentleness and even more. We are encouraged to demonstrate our love and gentleness in the same way.
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This flower is a full-sun, perennial plant that blooms early to late summer. This is a blue flower. The color blue symbolizes Mary’s love and tears. It also represents the bond between Mary and Jesus.
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Sorrowful Mother Prayer Walk Garden
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A. Bacula and A. Jones completed the “Sorrowful Mother Prayer Walk Garden.” In this garden they planted a variety of vegetation, built 2 benches for quiet mediation and prayer, added a windchime for some quiet music, included 3 statues of important religious figures for our church, and created a quiet place for people to reflect.
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Plants & Statues in the Prayer Walk Garden
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Hosta (Assumption lily) defines the edge of the garden. Hostas are religious because St Thomas found lilies in Mary’s tomb. A special variety of Hosta called “Praying Hands Hosta” looks like praying hands and is located in the front middle in front of the cross.
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These will be planted on the arches in Spring 2025. The morning glory symbolizes rebirth because it is alive at dawn then it closes by midday.
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According to legend, Mary hung baby Jesus' clothes on lavender plants to dry. Learn more about this legend and how to bake lavender cookies by visiting the Catholic Cuisine blog.
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Periwinkle represents love and is associated with Mary as she is usually represented wearing a veil that is the same color. The five petals represent a star.
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Lilac blooms during the Pentecost. The first part of its botanical name, Syringa, is associated with shepherds and Jesus is our shepherd. This beautiful and sweet smelling flower symbolizes love.
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This statue was added to honor the patron of Sorrowful Mother, Our Lady of Sorrows. Notice the seven swords that pierce her heart. You can pray the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary while sitting by this statue in the prayer garden. View the Seven Sorrows prayer online here. View the Litany to Our Lady of Sorrows here.
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The St. Francis statue and two deer statues were already in the garden. The girls cleaned them up and repositioned them and placed a bird bath nearby to give birds a place to drink and rest. You can pray the St. Francis prayer for peace while resting here. Find this prayer online here.
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The cross was chosen as it's bark like texture is a reflection of the trees and natural beautify of the garden.
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The St. Joseph and Baby Jesus statue was present in the garden. The girls cleaned up this statue and placed it near the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows to complete the holy family. You can pray the litany of St. Joseph while walking the garden. Find this prayer online here.
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