St Francis in my garden
By hywel
26 comments
Many years ago when I lived in a different place I bought a statue of St Francis of Assisi in a local garden centre and put it in my garden, and when I moved here he came also.
Over the years he has been in several positions around the garden …… until I finally decided he would look best here, in a corner between some shrubs :-
This year however, the Hibiscus behind him has grown so big and has so many flowers on it, that when the rain arrived after that heatwave, the branches drooped down and hid him … so he is out of sight and can’t be seen !
He stands 2.5 feet tall and has animals around him :-
He is very heavy and made from some sort of resin. I can’t lift him and when I moved him he had to be rolled along by using the base as a sort of wheel.
I know it’s only a statue but when I see him I feel at ease. I think he has a kind face :)
5 Aug, 2018
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Comments
He does have a very caring face and he fits into your lovely garden perfectly. The position he is in is beautiful and I can easily see why you are so fond of him.
5 Aug, 2018
Enjoy your beautiful Hibiscus Bluebird while it lasts and you'll have the rest of the year to look at St. Francis.
5 Aug, 2018
Thank you all, I will have to cut the Hibiscus back because the branches are too lanky now. I want it to be more bushy for next year.
5 Aug, 2018
I agree Hywel, he creates a presence, as does your Hibiscus, I thought of your Hibiscus the other day when I looked at mine which is flower less yet again, and I thought I bet Hywel is covered in flowers and so it is :)
5 Aug, 2018
he features a lot in your blogs and rightly so. he commands respect and is a lovely statue and I never tire of seeing him and your lovely plants.
5 Aug, 2018
Thank you all for your comments.
Dawn where is your Hibiscus ? Mine is in the shelter of a fence.
When it was in my dad's garden it was by the side of a lawn and never got very big and had few flowers.
5 Aug, 2018
Its always lovley to look at your St Francis - and great to see the little animals - I don't think you've shown us them before. If you've got to be hidden away for a while what could be a more glorious screen than that Hibiscus? Must give you so much pleasure Hywel - he does have such a peaceful caring expression.
6 Aug, 2018
Hi Hywel, well, my hibiscus Saxon a shady part then I moved it last summer to a sunny border so if probably needs to settle.
6 Aug, 2018
I agree with Stera in that he has a very caring expression ... thanks for showing him in detail Hywel ... :o)
6 Aug, 2018
Thanks for all your comments.
I hope you get more flowers on it next year Dawn.
7 Aug, 2018
Would St.Francis be better on a square base of bricks about one foot high ? You would need some help to lift him up.
7 Aug, 2018
Thank you for showing us the details of the statue, we hadn't seen the birds & animals before. You were lucky to find a statue like that, just right for placing in a garden. The Hibiscus is lovely too.
7 Aug, 2018
Thank you both …
He's on a square slab Diane but yes maybe he'd look better elevated a bit. I could try and do something about it over the winter.
8 Aug, 2018
Beautiful statue - I have a dvd from Italy of St Francis, little short stories in black and white and shows many aspects in various situations, love watching it.
You know he is there enjoying the natural environment, and you can go and see him still. The hibiscus is beautiful too.
Your plan to cut it back to grow less lanky sounds a good one :)
9 Aug, 2018
I feel sure St Francis won't mind being surrounded by all those lovely flowers for a while Hywel, took years for my blue one to produce some flowers but both pink and blue are having a good year, they must like the sunshine, lol...
9 Aug, 2018
That was a good blog on St Francis, Hywel. You did a god job putting him in your garden! Although I've seen him in other pictures of your garden I thought he was a lot bigger than 2.6ft!
9 Aug, 2018
Thank you all :)
10 Aug, 2018
Such detailing, a shame not to be able to see more of this lovely statue....
10 Aug, 2018
Thank you.
10 Aug, 2018
Added this blog to my favourites. x
11 Aug, 2018
Thank you TT :o) x
11 Aug, 2018
Oh Hywel I have always loved your St Francis so much that I had to buy one for my garden think you have seen photos on my blogs I agree he does give you a feeling of calm when you look at him as mine does for me all the plants around him are looking lovely .
12 Aug, 2018
Thank you, yes I think I've seen photos of yours.
12 Aug, 2018
I also love your statue he stands very well in your beautiful garden.
Hywell I have noticed that you have changed your ...to a coleus. I have just bought some plants and I have taken some cuttings. I have put the cuttings in water and they have rooted very quickly. It has encouraged me to grow more with seeds. Thanks Hywel
14 Aug, 2018
Thank you.
I sowed too many Coleus seeds. I have two big tubfulls and a trough ! They are very pretty though. I may try taking cuttings too.
14 Aug, 2018
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Such a lovely detailed statue even holding a bowl to feed the animals St Francis the saint of animals and animals surrounding him . l love the corner of your garden where you ve placed him looks wonderful with the Hibiscus behind him sets him off a treat a lovely photo. Yes he does have a kind face.
5 Aug, 2018