Last Saturday, seven of us got together and worked on the flower beds at church. I wasn't with the guys as they picked up the mulch, they chose red dyed mulch.














Next comes flowering plants

Good timing! After all these rains, that mulch will keep that moisture in the soil. Red may not be first choice, and dyed either. But it does look a whole lot better!

Looking good.
Red wouldn't have been my first choice either but it sure looks good against the brick on the church building.

Great job It does all look so neat and "loved".

Very nice and tidy! I had to laugh, though considering the title of your original post - you chose real mulch, but it looks artificial because of the red dye! Oh well, I continue to wonder why they must dye mulch.

Wear your gloves and old clothes when you go to plant in that stuff. Sometimes that red dye will get on you, too! Maybe all your rain will have washed it enough, let's hope.

Good job, Reine! It looks neat. What a great canvas to add flowers to! I thought it would take longer.

I'm attracted to that low bench. I hope you can get some tall flowering plants around it.

The exciting part is going to be choosing plants. Another lady and l are looking into what would grow well. Including all of the great ideas from y'all.
We want a mixture of different sized plants. Lots of color.

All three beds are facing south. The large one is going to get lots of sun, except the western corner where the shrubs are. The two smaller beds are located on either side of the entrance to the Family Life Center. They will get morning sun and afternoon shade.

Red mulch wasn't my first or second choice, but l'm glad this much has been accomplished.

Reine, what an accomplishment -- those flower beds look absolutely beautiful now!

I've never wanted to buy the red mulch, either (we have a local business that produces natural-colored cedar mulch, which is what I always get), but truthfully, whenever I see the red stuff where someone else has used it, I think it looks great !

I keep wanting to suggest garden statues like "Mary with children" or at least a welcoming angel or two ... but I think that kind of thing is more a Catholic style.

Maybe a St. Francis -- who could NOT like St. Francis ??

We should maybe stick to the gardening aspect of the project and maybe not offer suggestions which may go against the beliefs of the church in question.

Um, er, who could not like St Francis? Well, if you study religion and visit many different churches you might find that Baptists keep decorations in their churches to a minimum. Usually just a simple cross. Religious icons (such as statues) are considered idolatrous and are not used...period.

Okay, back to the gardening talk...

Rather than a statue, I was thinking perhaps something like a Welcome sign near the bench. Something like this?

I hope to be meeting up with "Neighbor", Reine soon as soon as our schedules allow. I have invited her into my garden, spade in hand to help her Church garden grow. I, in turn, will get my gardens thinned out, with the pleasure of knowing my plants will be rehomed, and will once again get great satisfaction in sharing. My Father-In-Law use to say we live in a "Jungle". hahaha He might have been right. Things love to grow in my yard. I am happy to share! I also have a few angel statues picked up off the curb if @Reine wants them.

Greene you are pretty much right. The only "decoration" in the sanctuary is a cross, a flower arrangement and two flags, the American and the Christian.

There is one small Angel statue in the garden. There is a big rock, that's not pretty, that l want to put a scripture on. I really like the sign idea Jean.

and l know Cheryl's generosity will be totally appreciated.

Y'all are great! ATP is a friendly, helpful site.