Carlie's Secret Butterfly Garden
McIntosh Middle School
701 S. McIntosh Road
Sarasota, FL 34232
(941) 361-6520

MMS was the school attended by 10-year-old Carlie Brucia when she was abducted at a car wash on her way home and found a few days later, murdered.

The prison community in Sarasota and Manatee counties (which are responsible for cultivating the plants used to adorn the public roadways) approached the warden with an idea. They asked permission to provide the plants for a garden at the school. They wanted her classmates to understand that even though people make mistakes, it doesn't mean that they're all monsters.

The Children's Garden
Parrish United Methodist Church
Rev. David Misener
State Route 301 and County Road 675
Parrish, FL 34219
(941) 776-1539
www.discoverGodslove.com

The Children's Memorial and Garden
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Rev. John “Jack” Costello
3100 26 th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 756-3732
ChildrensMemorialandGarden.org

The garden provides loved ones a place of peace where they may seek the healing presence of God through private time in the garden or at the bi-annual Ritual of Tears service held before Mother's Day and, again, right before the Holidays in November.

As one mother said, "Out of all the cards and gifts I received after my son's death, presenting the crystal glass tear for placement on the memorial was by far the most healing of all."

Children's Memorial Garden
Braden River Baptist Church
Rev. Wayne Young
5412 State Road 64 East
Bradenton, FL 34208
(941) 747-2868
www.ibrbc.com

Children's Memorial Garden
Church on the Rock
Rev. Talmadge "Tad" Mathews
1401 14 th Avenue West
Palmetto, FL 34221
(941) 729-3800
www.cotrfamily.com

Central to the garden is a 20' cedar cross adorned with 5 hand-blown, red glass orbs placed at the sites of the wounds of Christ. This was the last major work of liturgical artist, Normand Poirier prior to his death in July of 2006.

Children's Memorial Garden
Franklin First United Methodist Church
Jane Jones
143 5 th Avenue South
Franklin, TN 37064
(615) 794-2734
www.FranklinFUMC.org

In the quiet and dignity of this small memorial, the memory of the children God shared with us so briefly is honored. It is fitting that efforts to preserve the remembrance of these children be achieved in a garden setting of dignity, tranquillity, and reverence.

The garden is filled with symbolism (as shown in picture 2). The stone fence piled haphazardly signifies a life unfinished; the picket fence with the cut out crosses represent the many burdens we carry.

The Children's Memorial Garden
Hilton Head Regional Medical Center
Amy Metzger
25 Hospital Center Blvd.
Hilton Head Island, SC
(843) 689-3026

Families gather in the spring to remember their loved ones near the fountain. The brick walk contains the names of children forever remembered. Twice a year, a health fair and a half marathon are planned to promote healthy lifestyles. Age appropriate activities and exhibits are offered.

Children's Memorial Park
Ed and Peg Sandusky
43 Woodbury Drive
Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 434-2207
www.lockport-ny.com

What began as a place where neighbors and loved ones could assemble to remember the short life of a neighborhood child has become a highlight for Lockportian activities. The gazebo in the center of the park is large enough to accept an 18' Christmas tree during the Holidays and intimate enough to perform weddings in the summer. From spring to autumn the grounds are washed in a crest of flowering color.

Forever Our Stars
Sharon Cloutier
Clinton, MA
always826@aol.com

Thirty foot pines frame this peaceful garden set away from the cemetery proper. It's a place where loved ones can sit and seek comfort and strength through knowing that others have also experienced the death of a child; are on the same journey; and in the whispers of the pines, are reaching out to the newly bereaved.

Garden of Innocence
First Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ
1820 30 th Street S.E.
Ruskin, FL 33570
(813) 645-9582

The congregation found itself thrust in the midst of heartache when 11-year-old Sarah Lunde, a member of their church and youth group was first pronounced missing and then found murdered a few days later.

It brought a new awareness to this small community of believers of the long-lasting affects of child-loss grief on anyone touched by the life of a child. The garden is open to anyone who has experienced the death of a child to come and sit under the branches of a 200-year-old, Florida Live Oak and seek the healing presence of God.

Garden of Joy and Prayer Walk
Central Church of Christ
Rev. Rod Myers
6221 Proctor Road
Sarasota, FL 34241
(941) 924-0095
www.centralchurchofchristsarasota.org

This garden began when the body of 10-year-old Carlie Brucia was found murdered on the church's grounds. The faith community was so stunned that something so ugly happened there, they vowed to turn evil into beauty by honoring Carlie's short life. The garden became a project adopted by Sarasota and the surrounding communities.

Each year, a safety rally for youth is held at the site of the garden in February near the time of Carlie's birthday. Thousands attend the event.

Mary's Garden
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Betty Galvano
2131 Heitman Street
Ft. Myers, FL 33901
(239) 334-2161

The beautiful grounds of this once derelict piece of land is filled with unexpected delights. Each plant was chosen for its beauty and spiritual meaning. The garden is used as a beginning education for youth interested in learning more about gardening. It's a wonderful place to spend time as an individual or a group for a personal retreat.

Memory Garden
Christ United Methodist Church
Rev. Alex Knight
5512 26 th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34207
(941) 755-2722
christumc.us

This large expanse of land began in the 1950s with a portion dedicated for interment for the members of the church. In 2002 the pastor and congregation recognized the needs of families in grief to gather and honor their children. They have expanded their vision to include celebrating the young lives still in their care.
Care Net, a non-profit agency working with at-risk pregnant mothers uses the garden for a family photo of all the babies born to their clients within that year.

Our Children's Memorial and Walkway
Frazier Park
1201 West 4 th Street (Physical Address)
Skip and Jerry Mudge
P. O. Box 44153 (Mailing Address)
Charlotte, NC 28215
(704) 509-6603
www.ocmw.org

This walkway and garden is dedicated to the memory of children of all ages and is set in the heart of uptown Charlotte , NC . It allows families of all ages, denominations, and races from across the area to have a place to come together in memory of their children. It is truly a place of life and hope in memory of Our Children.

Peace Garden
Hope Lutheran Church
Rev. David Hinman
4635 26 th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34207
(941) 755-3256
hopelutheranfl.com

It is peaceful here; a place for reflection, remembrance, and tears. Tucked away from the rush of the passing world, it is also a place where a broken heart claims a quiet victory. For this, above all else, it is a place of hope.

Remembrance of Life
Bethel Baptist Church
Rev. Joey Mimbs
1805 30 th Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 746-1936

Garden benches shaded by a pergola greet you at the entrance of the garden. The space is rectangular with a brick walkway forming the shape of a cross. A Black Olive tree stands in the center of the cross-shaped walk. The words, Peace, Love, Joy and Hope grace a hip-high monolith; words of comfort and reflection.

Old fashioned lampposts offer a soft, inviting light to visitors who prefer to sit in the garden in the cool of the evening.

One Bright Star Children's Memorial
Erlandson Park,
Victory Drive and Main Street,
Mankato, MN 56001 
(507) 345-1920
www.onebrightstar.org
help@onebrightstar.org

Founders Linda Janavaras, Barbara Rischmiller, Vicki Meyer and Jan Backlund have worked tirelessly to ensure that no parent will have to grieve alone.

The Children's Memorial gives friends and family a place to gather and
remember their special child.

The Compassionate Friends' Children's Memorial Garden, Memorial Park
Corner of 25th Avenue North
and 29th Street North
Texas City, TX 77590 
(409) 948-6904
www.tcfgalvestoncounty.org
janlloyd1944@aol.com

The garden will forever be a testament of love and compassion to the memory
of our children, our sisters and our brothers, and to everyone who has lost a child.  It will not be a place for sadness but a place to reflect -
because the heart will always remember.