INTRODUCTION  

The gardens of Pelham Road Baptist Church are named “Seedin’ Eden”, home of the “CO-D Gardens”, an anagram for “CO- existing Dimensions.  They are not only 3-dimensional botanical gardens, but also contain 4th dimensional ideas and 5th dimensional spiritual principles.  They have been created by the church’s Garden Ministry to be botanical metaphors, symbolic sermons and evocative teaching tools, designed to not only be beautiful but meaningful.  They are also pictograms of our lives, both personal (individually) and social (collectively).  They can be experienced and interpreted on multiple levels; horticulture, biblical, ecology, psychology, therapy, symbolism, cosmology, education and recreation.  These are also symphonic gardens with each individual garden a chord in an overall melody. These gardens are designed to Heal, Inspire, Nurture and Teach (H-I- N-T).  Christ pointed out that heaven is all around us but we don’t perceive it.  Using new eyes see if you can find the numerous hidden hints of subtle ideas and spiritual principles throughout the gardens?  We invite you to  “Come To The Garden” often and experience the joy of communion with the natural and the divine.   

The Signature Plant is Sedum (seed ‘em).  The Theme Plant is the Rose (He who rose) and the primary colors are gold (wisdom) and purple (royalty).   The most basic law of gardening is “You reap what you sow” and these gardens teach us to sow wholeness = holiness.  The gardens are both the art of horticulture design and the science of spiritual law.  They are both a mirror and a catalyst in that 1) You will see what you bring to the gardens and 2) you will grow and be transformed as you open yourself to greater possibilities.    

1.  “Harmony Of Heaven And Earth Garden”

     This garden represents the joining of the opposites.  In the “Lord’s Prayer” we pray  “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.  Included are 24 + opposites such as high/low, light/dark, spreading/clumping, hard/soft, straight/curved, active/passive, etc.  Can you find them?  These opposites are not good and evil but simply polarities.  The ARBOR symbolizes the bridging of these complimentary opposites and teaches peaceful coexistence.  This is both a Stroll and a Viewing Garden, another pair of opposites.  The Signature plant is Creeping Sedum (seed ‘em).  Do you find the colors gold and purple?  Note the two related signs plus the placement of the stones.  This garden reaffirms the church’s Mission Statement that “Pelham Road Baptist Church is a diverse yet inclusive family...”.  It teaches us that even opposites can be joined to create one beautiful, unified whole.    

2.  “Mirror Gardens” 

     These are two garden areas flanking the left and right sides of the Sanctuary Entrance.  They symbolize both Essence (on the left) and Reflection (on the right).  It teaches us that our earthly, outer lives should reflect, mirror our inner commitment to spiritual truth.  As you approach the Sanctuary doors there are six columns each fronted by a Yew shrub.  This is to announce that this church is about you and you and you, etc.  Find the sedums (pennisetums).   

3.  “Melodic Stones”

     Along the curved sidewalk and in front of the two “Mirror Gardens” are two groupings of flat stones.  They represent notes on a musical staff and each group of stones is a melody.  In front of the Essence side on the left is the melody “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”.  In front of the Reflection side on the right is the melody “Everything Is Beautiful In Its Own Way”.  Note the Crescendo Stones.  If  we truly live according to truth everything becomes sanctified, beautiful and a blessing.  On Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the disciples requested that Jesus quell the jubilant followers.  He said that if you tried to quiet them even the stones would cry out.  This is our attempt to have the stones “sing” rather than cry out.  Other melodies will be added throughout the gardens.  It is hoped that the visitors will also come singing through these gardens.

  4.  “Four-Square Garden”

     Directly in front of the Sanctuary doors is a large square of mondo grass divided into four quadrants.  Thesrepresent the church’s four Ministries.  Beginning at the top left is 1) the “Church Ministry” of worship and fellowship.  Below the first quadrant is 2) the “Education Ministry”.  Above and to the right is the 3) “Music Ministry” and below it on the right is 4) the “Missions Ministry”.  

In the center of each quadrant is a gold “Sunflare Rose” representing the radiance 
of the “only begotten Son” at the heart 
of each ministry.  The four paths come 
from all four directions, North, East, South 
and West.  All paths and those who travel them 
meet in the center in Holy Communion with 
Jesus Christ represented by the urn, the 
large chalice with the words “Do this in 
remembrance of me.” 

5.  “Memorial Garden of Faithfulness”

     This island garden is dedicated to a life of Faithfulness.  To the rear right are three large stones labeled Faith, Hope and Love.  They are the cornerstones of a life of Faithfulness. To the left on top of a subtle berm is a Japanese Maple “Crimson Queen” symbolizing the life of Doris Stokes.  Bisecting the garden are nine Stepping Stone labeled “Fruits of the Spirit” reminding us that we are to not only declare our Faith but we are to “walk our talk”.  If you falter in your life of faith to the rear are canna, canna, canna (can, I can, I can). The five groups of flowers across the right front begin with the letters F-A-I-T-H.  Two benches overlook this garden for viewing and contemplation.  Again, do you find the “seed ‘em”, the colors yellow and purple and the roses?   

6.  “Twelve Disciples Garden”

     To the left of the Child Development Center sidewalk is a Parson’s Juniper followed by a small conical tree underplanted with Purple Heart.  Next are twelve shrub roses.  This garden symbolizes Jesus calling His twelve disciples, the faculty or quality that each one represents plus the corresponding scriptural reference.  The lesson of this garden is to inspire us to build the Body of Christ in both the church and in our own personal lives.  As we live the Christ-life we too are to “call our disciples” and learn to use their faculties in service to Christ rather than to the personal ego.  Roses have been chosen to symbolize the faculties which “rose” from the human to the divine through the grace and living example of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This rose garden takes the form of a hedge and could be said to be a hedge against a wasted life.  Called in sequence are 1) Peter = Faith, 2) Andrew = Strength/Resolve, 3) James = Judgment/Justice, 4) John = Love, 5) Philip = Power, 6) Bartholomew = Imagination, 7) Thomas = Understanding, 8) Matthew = Will, 9) James = Order, 10) Simon = Zeal/Enthusiasm, 11) Thaddeus = Release, and finally 12) Judas = Life Choices.  Daily we are called to become the Body of Christ in whom all life is sanctified. 

7.  “Biblical Healing Garden”

     This garden is in front of the Child Development Center building.  Botanically it portrays the biblical story-line from Genesis to the Resurrection, Ascension and Second Coming.  At the left of the CDC doors is the Old Testament Garden.  All the plants are symbolic.  In the center is the fig tree (Garden of Eden), narcissus (mankind’s ego), Red Hot Poker (Satan’s temptation), wormwood (mankind’s bitter experience after the expulsion from the Garden of Eden), sage (the prophets and village elders), twelve Lamb’s Ears (the meandering twelve tribes of Israel), burning bush, “Joseph’s Coat” (of many colors) climbing rose, Wandering Jew, Jacob’s Ladder and Daylilies.  To the right of the CDC doors is the New Testament Garden.  It begins and ends with a Butterfly Bush the symbol of transformation (as from caterpillar to butterfly).  Note that the plants or ornaments represent Jesus’ Birth, Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension and Second Coming.  There are Lamb’s Ears, Blazing Star, Star Gazers, Christmas Cactus, a small pool of water, Obedient Plant, Spearmint, Sedums around the open tomb (through Jesus’ death and resurrection He seeded a new possibility).  Note the “rose” hovering over the open tomb and the Rose of Sharon.  The Aloe plant represents the medicinals and spices brought to annoint Jesus’ body on Easter morning.  The first one to the tomb after Jesus rose was Mary, hence the rosemary plant.  From scripture can you discern the meaning of the “Adam’s Needle” plant?  There is a  “Peace Rose” as Christ Jesus also has the title of “Prince of Peace”.  Lastly note the “Parson’s Juniper”, i.e. after salvation we each become Parsons (Priests) as we enter the Priesthood of Believers.  Throughout the garden are herbs mentioned in the bible to remind us that Christianity is a healing faith, healing the rift of original sin between God and mankind through the living Christ. 

8.  “Garden of Holiness”

     This garden is an extension of the “Biblical Healing Garden” which ended with a “Parson’s Juniper”.  When we are united with Christ we become whole. This state is described in Phil. 2:13 “For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.”  Before healing anyone Jesus asked “Wilt thou be made whole?’  We are called to be conduits of Christ expression as we carry the current of spirituality into everyday life.     

9.  “SECRET GARDEN”

     This small space is nestled between two buildings and off the beaten “T-R-A-C”, an anagram for Tolerance, Respect, Acceptance and Celebration, a path toward inner and global peace.  This garden represents our secret place within.  It is a solitary place of quiet contemplation and communion.  It is not obvious but needs to be discovered by each person for him/herself.  While it may be partially seen from the building’s hallway it cannot be entered from there but only viewed from outside its immediate space.  Here we are reminded to go into our inner sanctum as Jesus advised and pray to our Father in secret.  On one side there is a small, very personal bench framed by a grapevine.  The arbor also has a grapevine pattern and repeats the design of the arbor in the “Harmony Garden”.  Within this garden are contrasts that resolve differences, plants that are rooted in the soil but also reach upward, plants that bear bright berries, has both sun and shade just like our lives.  Sometimes when the rain pours the pebble path is an active stream but at other times it is simply a dry streambed.  Do you catch the symbolism?  It is a space pervaded by a quiet harmony and peace.   

10.  “RESURRECTION GARDEN”

     This garden sits to the right of the Sanctuary building and its bank is covered with perennials that appear to die (but only go dormant) each winter but reappear in the Spring renewed and again full of life and beauty.  We believe this to be true in our mortal lives as well with sleep each night, with our hopes and dreams (if we keep faith) and with death and transition.  In the original “Garden of Eden” God planted a Tree of Life that we could partake of if we followed His commandments.  Our faith assures us of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  John 11:25 “...he that believeth on me though he die yet shall he live.”  Here we are reminded by nature in its simple cycles of life, of the promise of resurrection through God’s call to ever-renewing life.

The Garden ministry is directed by Master Gardner, Alvina Bulter.