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Flowers Given to the Glory of God."

This announcement appears in weekly church bulletins throughout the world. It refers, of course, to altar flowers, which create a beautiful accent for a worship service.

Churches also place various plants in narthexes, offices, and fellowship rooms to welcome people. Or they set flowing palms on either side of the pulpit to serve as a silent tribute to God's natural world.

Bringing plants and flowers from church gardens into the sanctuary is a long-established tradition in European churches, notes Geoff Stickland from St. James Episcopal Church in Gloucestershire, England. In years past, rural churches often had large gardens, but after urbanization the practice of using plants and flowers inside sanctuaries faded away.

In recent decades, interest in church gardens has resurfaced, and many congregations are now enjoying the beauty of live plants and flowers throughout the church complex.

You don't have to be a horticulturist or spend a fortune on a botanical program to beautify your church with greens and flowers. Start with the low-maintenance approach if you're not sure about the quality of your green thumb. Cluster artificial plants in areas that you want to obscure or enhance.

The congregation of Castle Hills Church Northwest in San Antonio, Texas, uses several artificial plants in its sanctuary. That way people don't have to worry about light, temperature, and maintenance, while they still have the greens to enhance worship. Silk plants are so realistic today that it's hard to tell if they need watering.

If silk plants don't appeal to you, consider bringing in live bromeliads or peace lilies. Both have long-lasting blooms and survive in the low light and cool temperatures of most church environments. Cornstalk plants grow quickly and require little care. A philodendron can be trained to climb around an entry arch.

For those who want to use real plants, which will help purify your church's air, try contacting a local greenhouse or florist for suggestions. A florist can suggest what kinds of planters would look best in your church and direct you to someone who can construct plant boxes for your narthex and window boxes for your sanctuary.

"We will work with you to determine the plants appropriate for your light levels and temperature," says Susan Harvey of Susan's Interior Plantscaping in Salisbury, Massachusetts.

If you prefer live plants but are intimidated by the thought of caring for them, talk to a company that will come in and take care of your plants for you. Service options range from simple watering and removing dead leaves and blooms to applying organic pesticides when necessary. Professional packages can start as low as $10 a week.

Fresh-cut flowers are more expensive than green plants, but they are beautiful reflections of a season. Many congregations ask members of their congregations to donate flowers for worship. Whakatam Baptist Church in New Zealand solicits weekly donations via its Web site. Donors can also offer flowers in memory of a special person or a special date.

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