Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw Biblical Gardens include six micro-climates representing the main environments mentioned in the Bible.
Located east of the Center Lake pavilion, events to mark the garden's 15th anniversary are scheduled Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Children can make a flower hat, Jacob's bowl, a name plaque to hang on a doorknob and plant a seed from 10 a.m. to noon. Three programs will be presented from noon to 2 p.m. with Bible foods at noon; healing plants at 1 p.m.; and plants as weapons at 2 p.m.
All-day activities include the "Where is Zipporah?" quiz; a find-it-in-the-gardens hunt, entertainment, refreshments, tours, vendors and a gift basket raffle.
Admission is free.
The Biblical Gardens are filled with plants like the Rose of Jericho, which is also known as the resurrection flower because the plant seems to come to life after dying. Legend says this little flower sprang up at all the places where the Holy Family rested during their flight to Egypt.
The lily was a symbol of nobility to the Romans and an emblem of abundance to the Chinese. Folklore indicates lilies spontaneously appear on the graves of people executed for crimes they did not commit. Other stories say eating a lily's petals would restore someone who had been transformed into a beast back into human form. Some ancients believed planting lilies in a garden would protect the garden from ghosts and evil spirits.
The legend of the crocus is connected to Valentine's Day. Valentine was a third-century Roman physician who administered natural remedies. He also was a practicing Christian priest and prayed for his patients' healing.
Unfortunately, Christian practices were not permitted under the reign of Claudius II, and Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death.
His jailer's blind daughter was one of Valentine's patients. Just before his execution, Valentine handed the jailer a note for the blind girl. In the note, he had wrapped a yellow crocus, the source of one of his healing herbs, saffron. As the jailer's blind daughter opened the note, her sight was restored. On the note, the physician had penned the message: "From your Valentine." It was the physician's last message and the world's first valentine. The day was Feb. 14, 270 A.D.
In mythology, the oak tree was thought to be imbued with powers of protection, health, money, healing, wisdom and strength. Christian legend says that when Cain murdered Able he had to carry his brother's body for 700 years and then bury him. To mark the burial place, Cain stuck his staff in the ground. Seven oaks immediately sprang forth in a row, now known as the announcement of the Seven Oaks of Palestine.
