Eggsley: 2009

Monday, April 20, 2009

What's in Mary Ellen's Garden?

Sunflowers: A favorite of Mary Ellen’s, the seven sunflowers represent her seven children. Arranged in order of height, oldest to youngest, the center of each flower contains a tiny photograph of the child’s birthstone.

Fence: The white picket fence symbolizes home, family and innocence.

Center fence post: The majority of the fence is purposely obscured in order to frame and reveal a white cross representing the Christian church at the center of Mary Ellen’s life.

Red Hat: Known for their bright red and purple attire, Mary Ellen’s Red Hat Society hat holds a pink camellia, the state flower of Alabama where Mary Ellen was born.

Boxing Gloves: A hobby of Mary Ellen’s husband, Ted, the boxing gloves’ shape also represents Ted’s birth state of Michigan, and the home of the Browe family.

Leaves: There are a total of 53 leaves representing Mary Ellen and Ted’s 53 year marriage.

Eggsley’s attention to the sixth sunflower is a nod to Mary Ellen’s sixth child, Janine.

Eggsley’s position with his “backside to the camera” is a reference meaningful only to the Browe family.

In memory of Mary Ellen Browe