A plaque marks the entry to Justin’s Memory Garden.
I NEVER IMAGINED, when I published a post here on June 16 about the Memory Garden which honors my nephew Justin, that you, dear readers, would so fervently embrace a sculpture from that garden.
But I suppose my enthusiasm for the little boy holding a jar of fireflies ignited in the words I wrote.
Now, because of that story and accompanying photos, five more gardens—four in southeastern Minnesota and one at a Colorado hospital—will become homes for the little boy.
My husband, Randy, and Little Justin on the back steps before I moved Justin to a spot on the patio by the brilliant pink wave petunias.
He’s already in my backyard, my Little Justin, as Justin’s uncle, my husband, calls the garden sculpture.
Every evening as darkness settles in, the fireflies in the jar begin to glow, reminding me of my nephew who died too soon of Hodgkin’s disease 11 years ago at the age of 19.
Fireflies glow in the sculpture I recently purchased in memory of my nephew Justin.
Says his mother, Vivian:
Justin liked watching fireflies, especially when sitting at a bonfire. He loved looking at the stars and he loved Christmas tree lights, especially blue ones. He would often holler, “Mom/Dad, come and look at the sunset,” or the rainbow, or “there’s a shooting star.”
He didn’t want us to plant a tree in a particular spot because it would ruin the sightline for the sunsets—we never have planted one there.
Though we never talked about it specifically, he enjoyed light, from the heavens, in various forms.
And so, when the mother of the boy who loved light and fireflies and the heavens, saw the “Lightning Bugs with Boy” sculpture in a brochure the day before Mother’s Day, she felt moved to purchase it for Justin’s Memory Garden.
“As I’ve gotten older, I follow those instincts more readily,” Vivian says.
It is the first sculpture she’s purchased for the garden that honors her son. The other garden art—a plaque, dove, angel and birth bath—have come from friends as have most of the plants.
That, she says, makes it a true Memory Garden.
If you’re one of the gardeners who has purchased/is purchasing a Little Justin, hold close this story and imagine the little boy who loved light and is now living in the light.
A close-up of my Little Justin’s endearing face.
FYI: Vivian and I both ordered our “Lightning Bugs with Boy” sculptures from our local True Value hardware stores, hers in Morris, mine in Faribault. My sculpture had to be shipped in from Oregon. The product cannot be ordered online from True Value, but if you would like to view it, click here.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
The only word I can use is, Touching!
Thank you, Allan.
Sweet story and lovely sentiments…..I bet Justin would smile knowing that so many are remembering him with this sculpture.
Thank you so much.
You are so welcome! You are such a caring and sensitive person and it shows in your writing.
Thank you for your kind words.
That’s so lovely. I’ve never seen a sculpture like it. We don’t actually get fireflies here in Australia – that’s a sight I would love to see. The loss of a child is so tragic and I’m sure it’s the worst sort of experience to have to deal with but I love how Justin’s parents are keeping his memory alive with these wonder sculptures – until they meet again! xx
Fireflies seem magical as they flit through the darkness, blinking.
This is beautiful, Audrey, the idea and the message. We just created a memory garden for my cousin who passed away due to a rare disease, and I appreciate how healing a garden like this can be for family and friends. All best to those of yours connected with Justin.
Emily, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your cousin. A Memory Garden can most assuredly become a respite and a place of healing and remembrance. I expect you will add your poetic touch to your cousin’s garden.
Mine should be in at my local (Houston,MN) True Value this coming Friday!……..
Fantastic. My sister Lanae also got a Little Justin, from True Value in Marshall.
They are really going to wonder what’s up with those statues!!! LOL!
Let them wonder. I think it’s fantastic.
I am with ya!
It really is a sweet sculpture. I don’t tend to be a statue person, but…I’m severely tempted! It’s tender and not sentimental…
I hear you. But once you see this little guy, you just can’t resist him. For me, it’s the personal connection to my nephew, of course.
[…] darling little boy with the firefly in the jar on Audrey Kietscher Helbling’s blog “Minnesota Prairie Roots“, I was “on the hunt” this addition. So, in honor of his “natal day” […]
[…] Audrey posted the charming story of the “Boy who loved fireflies” on her blog “Minnesota Prairie Roots“. From that point on, I began the quest to find this little guy. Audrey steered me to the […]
Dear Audry, it is a long story, but I lost my son Benjamin Stephen on August 9th, 2013. He was only 4 months gestation, but we loved and wanted him more than anything in the world. While waiting to give birth to him, a firefly hung outside the window of my hospital room. Now, Benjamin is my little firefly. I stumbled across your blog about your nephew and I am now in search of my very own statue to honor my son for his second birthday. I hope to create a garden as beautiful. I want you to know that I will think of Justin when I look at it as well. I hope I can find one since this post was so long ago. fingers crossed.
Oh, Stephanie, my heart breaks at the loss of your darling Benjamin. That story of the firefly outside of your window is incredibly touching and I understand why you desire a firefly. And to create that garden for Benjamin, what a loving way to honor him. I wish you success. And be assured that now I will also think of Benjamin when I look at my “Little Justin.” Ironically, I just set my boy-firefly statue outside shortly before I came inside and checked my comments to find yours. How’s that for timing?