Obviously, the seven panels in "Adrienne's Garden" portray a garden
progressing through the growing seasons. But the flowers and critters
residing in the garden represent our earthly lives. The tulips, jonquils
and crocus represent Spring. The rabbit is our childhood -- innocent,
adorable, freely and carelessly hopping through life. Iris represents the
arrival of early Summer. The word iris literally means rainbow in the Greek
language. In our teen years we are surrounded with a rainbow of endless
experiences just barely within our grasp. However, do you remember your
teen years and how time seemed to crawl by at an interminable pace? We all
have felt like snails moving through our lives sometime between ages 12 -18.
The daisies, black-eyed susans and violas are the midsummer of our lives.
A time when we discover our differences, our many similarities, and the fact
that together we can coexist and grow to fruition. Lilies, the peak and
decline of Summer. A squirrel huddles, eating a ripe berry. He is a wise
critter, preparing for tougher, colder times by storing provisions. Don't
we do that ourselves, preparing for our golden days of retirement? The
chrysanthemums depict the beginning of Autumn, the 'golden' years of our
lives that are bright and colorful until the frost of Winter makes us frail
and our grasp of life tenuous. With Winter comes death but also
resurrection in the form of the poinsettia.
But there is a miracle afoot in the garden. More exists than simple
elements of the earthly domain. For at the center of the garden, we find
the meeting place of both the earthly domain and the spiritual realm. There
is love, hope, and a beautiful butterfly at the center. There are also
other butterflies throughout the garden. Where a caterpillar is a symbol of
life on earth; the chrysalis, as symbol of death; a butterfly is the symbol
of the resurrected life. Throughout our lives we inevitable loose loved
ones -- they become the butterflies in the gardens of our lives. A
butterfly is at the center because to believe in the resurrected life is to
possess faith. Love, hope, and faith are the heart of our life here on
earth and in the spiritual realm.
Some may interpret different meaning in the last two panels. You may see
the angel presenting the 'Host' to the spirit of God (the dove). A catholic
portrayal and certainly not incorrect. Yes, the dove represents the spirit
of God descending from the heavens to accept a faceted gem presented by an
ascending angel.