From the main road, there is nothing to suggest what lies there.
Parishioners and others walk by on their way to Mass or meetings, perhaps pausing to greet a friend or enter the hall itself for one of the many activities held there, many people not realising that just a few steps away is a place set apart, waiting in stillness... the wild garden of Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton — a space unlike any other in the parish.
A Garden Watched Over
From the moment you enter, there is a sense that this place is more than just soil, grass, and wild flowers. It feels kept — not in the neat way of a manicured lawn, but as if loved by unseen hands. The wild beauty speaks of God’s creativity. It recalls the psalmist’s words:
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1, RSV-CE).
It's easy to feel that our Lady Of Lourdes, — the Queen of Flowers — watches over this garden. It's easy to imagine her walking here in the cool of the evening, her presence a blessing over every stem and leaf. The very name of the church makes her closeness feel natural, as though this garden belongs to her care.
Saint Francis of Assisi, patron of ecology, surely lends his prayers here too. It is not hard to picture him rejoicing at the wild flowers, the tiny creeping things, and the birds that dart between branches. One can almost sense his spirit urging each creature to praise the Creator in its own way.
Saints, Angels, and Quiet Work
In prayerful imagination, you might picture saints and angels tending the garden unseen — planting seeds of grace, nurturing growth, and even painting silent prayers on smooth pebbles scattered in hidden corners. They work without tiring, for their joy is to see God’s creation flourish.
It brings to mind the Lord’s promise:
“Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5, RSV-CE).
This is not just about plants, but about the soul — about the new life God quietly brings to anyone who steps inside with an open heart.
A Place to Lay Down Your Burdens
If you need to have some quiet time, or to lay down your burdens for a while, this is the place to come.
Here, in the shelter of the wild garden, the world seems to pause. The air carries a gentle warmth, and the light falls softly, as if Heaven has drawn a veil over the noise outside.
You can rest on a simple wooden bench and breathe more deeply than you have all week. There may be no grand visions, no sudden revelations — only stillness. Yet, in that stillness, hearts often find they are lighter when they leave than when they came.
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, RSV-CE).
Lessons from the Wild Garden
Every visit to this hidden place seems to hold a lesson. Sometimes it is patience — the slow work of growth beneath the soil. Sometimes it is trust — the way flowers open without fear of whether the sun will rise tomorrow. Sometimes it is humility — how the most beautiful blooms may be hidden among the grass, unseen by anyone but God.
These truths echo in the Gospels:
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29, RSV-CE).
A Devotion in the Garden
When you visit, it feels natural to pray the Rosary here. Each bead can seem like a seed planted in the soil of the heart, and the Queen of Flowers smiles on every prayer offered with love.
The Joyful Mysteries feel at home among new blossoms; the Sorrowful Mysteries resonate in the quiet places; the Glorious Mysteries lift the heart as freely as the birds take flight.
You might begin your devotion with the words of the psalmist:
“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
before the Lord” (Psalm 96:11-13a, RSV-CE).
A Prayer for the Wild Garden
Heavenly Father,
we thank You for the gift of creation,
for the beauty of wild flowers and quiet places.
Bless this garden behind Our Lady of Lourdes Church,
that it may be a refuge for weary souls
and a place where Your presence is felt.
May the Queen of Flowers, the Blessed Virgin Mary,
watch over it with her motherly care,
and may Saint Francis guide its creatures and greenery in harmony.
Send Your angels to guard it,
and plant within our hearts the seeds of peace, faith, and love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Personal Reflection
The wild garden is not simply a place — it is a parable. Here
God whispers lessons about life, faith, and eternity. We are reminded that our souls, like gardens, need tending; that weeds must be pulled, and good seed planted; that growth happens in God’s timing.
As Saint Paul wrote:
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7, RSV-CE).
A Poem for the Wild Garden
Beneath Our Lady’s gentle gaze,
this quiet space receives our days;
and saints unseen in grace employ
their hands to sow, their hearts in joy.
The angels walk these grassy ways,
and mark our prayers in stones of praise;
while Francis smiles on bird and bee,
and blesses all in harmony.
Here burdens fade, here hearts are light,
for Heaven leans to touch the sight;
and all who come in faith will know —
God walks where wild flowers grow.
Invitation
If you're coming down this way during the forthcoming Bank Holiday, or if you ever find yourself near Our Lady of Lourdes Church in New Milton, slip quietly past the church hall and look for the small gate.
Beyond it lies the wild garden — a place not made for crowds or noise, but for the soul’s rest. You may find, as many have, that you carry your troubles in, but leave with peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).
************
Visit Our Parish Website
ourladyoflourdes.co.uk
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton
Thank you for visiting this blog here at
the247catholic.blogspot.com
************
View And / Download The Ordo
for the 2024 - 2025 Liturgical Year
For The Diocese Of Portsmouth
******
Let's stay prayerful, let's stay faithful,
and let's stay Catholic
– 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
******
Also see
The Gardens of Scripture: A Biblical Reflection on Creation and Care for Our Earth