Chat & Photos
Founding 2001
St. Anthony's Parish Mary Garden
Pocatello, ID
Update 2003
May 27, 2003, Deborah Pein
I finally have found a few minutes to forward to you the attached
photos of our Mary's Garden at St. Anthony's here in Pocatello,
Idaho. I am also attaching a document that details our
accomplishments. We have just hired an electrical contractor to
install power and lighting in the garden. Once this is
accomplished we will be able to thoroughly enjoy this labor of
love! I have a landscape plan as well as list of flowers and
plants that I would be happy to forward to you if other may be
interested. Thank you for maintaining your wonderful website! It
has provided us with a wealth of information! The landscape
architect, in particular, leaned a considerable amount of
information to help her with the plan.
In a few weeks, our local newspaper is going to feature an article
on Mary's Garden here at St. Anthony's. Once, it is published, I
would be happy to forward this information.
Again, many thanks!
Deb Pein
May 28, 2003 - John Stokes
Many thanks for the extensive update information and photos for the
St. Anthony's Parish Mary's Garden, since you previously wrote us
in May of 2001.
I have posted them to our website CHAT section, where they will be
most inspirational and instructive for the many coming to the
website seeking approaches for gaining the support of their Pastors
and fellow parishioners for starting Mary Gardens in their
parishes. I have added the year 2000 photos to the previous May 26,
2001 CHAT posting, and the 2002 photos to a new May 27, 2003 update
posting (each click-linked with the other).
Your full story of the garden, from "prior to 1997" (exact year?)
to 2003 will be most helpful to others in showing how it developed
from a church society member initiated niche Mary Garden in the
church park to a full-fledged parish garden with committed care by
Rosemary Ray, then asssisted by yourself, and now with the formation
of the present Guild of some 15 or so members and an updated garden.
If you are able to locate a photo of the original park Mary's Garden
it would add pictoral interest to the 3-stage development of the
garden.
Yes, please send copies of the landscape plan and list of flowers
and plants. I may have to abbreviate the plan to fit on the
website page - as I have scaled your photos to 6 inch width, with
some cropping. And yes, also, I would appreciate receiving print
copies, including photos, of any newspaper articles about your
garden - to be sent to:
Mary's Gardens
Box 30290
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(postal address not for publication)
Also, include the addresses of the publications, so I can request
permission to reprint on the website. and also any publication
website addresses where a digital version may be published also
(saves scanning).
In the interest of completeness for others, there a number of
further details I'd like to ask about. Some may seem trivial, or
the answers obvious, but I've learned the hard way that it's
helpful to those getting started to have them spelled out in the
various ways they have been handled.
First, does the Guild have meetings as a group from time to time,
and does one of the priests from the parish serve as a spiritual
adviser, in the development of Marian devotion, prayer and
sacrifices, etc.? I note the participation in your Guild of the
Legion of Mary representative. (I'm an Auxiliary Legion Member
myself; treasure the Legion Prayer; and value the requirement set
forth in the Legion Handbook for a vase of flowers at the Legion
meetings.)
I assume you let it be known that new persons who emerge, or come
into the parish, are welcome to join the Guild - with a view to
self-perpetuating continuity through the years.
In one of my former parishes, one of the senior members initiated a
Marian study group (pre-Mary's Gardens) under the guidance of an
area priest, in the course of which a number of us made the de
Montfort Consecration.
Were any of the priests' remarks at your garden dedications and
blessings audiotaped? Or maybe definitive announcements or reports
were made in the chuch bulletin. As the years go by it's valuable
to be able to go back to origins. Thus, for the year 2000
dedication and blessing of the Mary's Garden at the Basilica of the
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington it is
valuable to have Shrine Director, Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Bransfield's
remarks, including,
"We are opening a new dimension to this shrine. . . .
Coming out here to pray and rest...will be part of our
pilgrimages and our everyday life. This will bring us
into the garden to pray as well as in the church. . . . "
and the text of Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Montalvo's dedication
homily,
- both serving to set forth the incorporation of the garden in the
spiritual life of the Shrine.
In this connection: to what extent is the garden being incorporated
in school life and classroom teaching, etc. in addition to the May
devotions you mention? Are any of the teachers members of your
Guild? (Which person in the Guild photo is you?) If you are able
to provide any details on the school participation, it would add
"flesh and bones" to an extensive background resource for schools I
am putting up on the website - not yet ready for idexing - at
www.mgardens.org/FOLAMGFS.html
I take special note, again, of your beautiful Rosary stones, and
their use to memorialize contributions to the garden. Am I correct
in assuming that the square ones, with Creation engraving, are for
the "Paters", and the round ones with roses and birds for the
"Aves"? A Rosary Walk is an important incorporation for all parish
Mary Gardens. The Rosary and the Flowers of Our Lady are so closely
inter-related - as set forth at the beginning of the schools
resource just mentioned; both having origins around the 12th
century.
An important contribution to Mary's Garden survival (in addition to
a followed planting plan; maintained plant markers; and an updatedly
maintained list of sources for each year's needed replacement
plants) are permanent elements such as stone terraces, bed borders,
benches, fountains, etc.. Your Rosary Stones and concrete bench
foundations serve to this end. I pray your St. Anthony's Mary's
Garden continues until the end of the world.
I hope you can get a suitable photo of the night illuminated
garden.
Is there some sort of "take one" shelf near the garden where
visitors, new parishioners, etc. can get an introductory leaflet
for the garden as they enter? - such as the document sent with
your message?
Do you have plant markers indicating the plant symbolism for
recogniion as visitors walk through the garden? Dymo generated
embossed plastic labels adhered to low inclined plastic markers
inserted in the ground serve well for this. They can be brown or
green so as not to intrude in the overall all appearance of the
garden.
It's great that you have a supportive plant nursery and landscape
architect garden designer. Do members of your Guild members start
any annuals from seed at their homes for tranplanting to the
garden - or in classroom windowsills? Do any of the members have
home nursery beds where they mature perennials from seed for
transplanting to the parish garden - and perhaps have their own
home Mary Gardens? (I note the number of patio container Mary
Gardens that you mention as created for fund raising.)
And how do you arrange for responsibility for the regular weeding,
soent bloom removal, and general tidying up which, together with
regular watering, contribute so much to an attractive garden
appearance?
Once again, it means so much to me to know of your Idaho parish
Mary's Garden. Bonnie Roberson must have personally helped start
some 50 Idaho Mary Gardens, with plants from her nursery from 1962
to 1983 - for many of which she sent me photos: mostly at homes,
convents and hospitals (parishes mostly weren't "ready" for them
just yet at that time). However, in that earlier period Bonnie and
I just helped people obtain the plants and plant them, without
understanding or urging for all the supportive requirements for the
continuity of institutional gardens, such as you have taken care of
and about which I have asked, above.
I remember once reflecting with Bonnie toward the end of our work
together that with all the articles we had written, the thousands
of inquiries we had answered, and the many gardens we had
personally assisted in getting started, that we could count on our
fingers those gardens which we knew for sure were still in
existence. Happily, it is very different today.
If the diocesan Boise Idaho Register ever writes up your garden, as
background refer them to the 20 or so articles about or by Bonnie
in the Register from 1962 through 1977, per the website article,
OVERVIEW
50 years of Mary's Gardens Articles
2000 - Mary's Gardens Press Files Listing 1946-1994
(Pre-Internet)
Also, refer them to Bishop Treinan's visit to her Hagermann Mary
Garden, per my May 31, 3001 letter, in the earlier posting
So, Deb, give me what additional information requested you can.
Thanks again for letting me know further about everything, to share
with others.
Accept my most appreciative congratulations to you and all who have
establised your exemplary parish Mary's Garden.
o O o
(Document Attached to Your Message)
Mary's Garden at St. Anthony's Church
The Mary's Garden Guild invites the entire community to visit
Mary's Garden located directly behind St. Anthony's Church at 7th
Avenue and East Wyeth. We hope all who enter Mary's Garden will
find it a place of serenity, prayer, and beauty~
Background and History:
Prior to 1997, the Legion of Mary and the Saint Anthony Council of
Catholic Women cared for the small Mary Garden that was located in
an area beneath a tree in the present Father Dougherty Park. In
1997, Father Xavier Aresseril became pastor of St. Anthony's Parish
and initiated the relocation of Mary's Garden to its present site.
After Father Xavier passed away in February 2000, his dear friend,
Rosemary Ray, a longtime resident of Blackfoot and Pingree, assumed
care of the flower gardens at St. Anthony's Church. She asked for
assistance in this care, and in the summer of 2000, Deb Pein
volunteered to help Rosemary with the gardening. With a hot dry
summer, Rosemary and Deb spent many days moving hoses and hand
watering the flowerbeds, around the church including Mary's Garden.
During this time, it became apparent that we should do more and add
to the beauty of Her garden. We decided to organize a meeting and
invite anyone that shared our interest in this endeavor to share
ideas on ways that we could further our goal.
Since that first meeting in August of 2000 with eight eager
members, we have accomplished a number of goals, which have
included:
Note:
Our first two goals included redesigning the garden plan and
installing an automated sprinkler system.
Fall 2000 Father Anthony and Father Muha blessed Mary's Garden
on Her birthday, September 8; St. Anthony school children and
parishioners were in attendance.
We hired Professional Landscaper, Camille Hanks to design
a new garden plan that included plants and flowers associated
with Mary, and a stepping stone rosary.
To offset costs, we offered parishioners an opportunity to
receive a rosary stone memorial for their financial contribution.
It was at this time that we read a feature on Eileen Jennings in
the Idaho State Journal that highlighted her stepping stone
business at the Farmer's Market. We sought the assistance of
Eileen and she poured 59 concrete rosary stepping-stones.
Winter 2001 We received significant financial contributions from
parishioner, Mary Brownley, and the Knights of Columbus Council
892.
Spring 2001 Through the generosity of Riverside Greenhouse in
Pingree, we initiate a successful Mary Garden Patio Flower Garden
fundraiser. Lyn McMorland's Religious Education class celebrated
May as the Month of Mary and adorning Mary's statue with a crown of
flowers.
(New, Since May 26, 2001 posting)
Summer 2001 Through our fundraising efforts, we were able to
install an automated sprinkler system that included Dougherty Park.
We also cut in the new flowerbeds and poured concrete for the
handcrafted redwood benches and arbor that surrounds Our Lady.
Also, Don and Mary Belcher, parishioners, graciously contributed
the 5' statue that adorns Her garden today. Bernie Wolf, Guild
member and craftsman built the beautiful benches and arbor.
During the summer we enriched the soil in the flowerbeds by adding
soil and building berms.
Fall 2001 Rosemary Ray initiated a successful fall fundraising
raffle. Bernie Wolf built redwood patio furniture for this effort.
Offering pieces of the original St. Anthony's altar, which was
shipped from Carerra Italy for the church when it was originally
built, was part of this fundraising effort.
Spring 2002 We completed all memorial stone contributions and
placed the rosary in Mary's Garden. We also completed a second
successful Mary's Garden patio flower bowl fundraiser. In June, we
planted Her flowers! Once again, Lyn Mc Morland's Early Religious
Education class celebrated the month of Mary, by adorning her
statue with a crown of flowers.
Summer 2002 We hired Graphic Artist, Denise Gibson, to design a
memorial sign. The sign, which includes the names of memorial
recipients and contributors, is placed on the arbor that surrounds
Her statue.
Parishioners participated in a Mary's Garden dedication that took
place on Her birthday, Sunday September 8.
Fall 2002 Once, again guild members initiated a successful fall
raffle. The raffle included redwood planter boxes built by Bernie
Wolf.
Spring 2003 With another Mary Garden patio flower bowl fundraiser,
we are in hopes of completing a goal to install a light and
receptacles in Mary's Garden. We wish to continue to decorate Her
garden during Christmas and other special occasions. Students in
the second grade communion classes at St. Anthony's school adorned
Her statue with a crown of flowers.
As of this writing, with a year of growth, we can
already see new growth and are looking forward to enjoying Her
Garden this summer! Please join us!
For more information about Mary's Gardens, please visit
www.mgardens.org Another resource for learning more about Mary's
flowers is the book, Mary's Flowers, Gardens, Legends, and
Meditations by Vincenzina Krymow.
Members of Mary's Garden Guild
Saralee Anderson Al Francesconi
Ed Aerhart, Our Lady's Bookstore Tony & Dorothy Frangesh
Carolyn Johnson Louanna Maheras
Keleen Lewis Loren & Barbara McFadden
Lyn McMorland Rosemary Ray
Helene Stafford Christine Brower
Deb Pein Cindy Wilks
Bernie Wolf
Scott Pearhill, Ex-Officio
Jerry Strochein, Legion of Mary Representative