Garden statues of Saint Francis of Assisi are a familiar sight in thousands of communities, both rural and urban. Known as the "patron saint of animals", St. Francis is a favorite Catholic religious statue and a source of inspiration for millions. Not only do many home owners buy St. Francis garden statues, bird baths, and bird feeders to dress up their gardens, but Saint Francis statues can also be spotted in church courtyards, in front of hospitals, and religious schools. Perhaps it's the kindly and gentle image that St. Francis embodies that makes statues of him such a universally appealing image to display. His enduring message of honoring nature and all its creatures is one to which many people can relate, even if they're not devoutly religious.

Statues of St. Francis are available in a variety of sizes, materials, and finishes. Sculpture studios that create Saint Francis garden statues can achieve a range of interesting effects through several unique processes. One 24-inch statuette of St. Francis that can be purchased on the Web uses a green tincture to mimic the appearance of aging copper. Another way to create an antiqued look on a St. Francis garden statue is by painting it in Sorrento Sandstone. A prime example of that is a 24.5-inch St. Francis bird feeder for sale that uses that exact finishing method. If you're in the market for garden statues that will enhance your landscape design, another one to consider is a 33-inch St. Francis sculpture made of stained cast stone. The sculpture gives the appearance of having a clay color, which darkens and changes tone when it's exposed to rain or other wet conditions.

Statues of St. Francis are also made of other materials, including resin stone mix, cast brass with a bronze finish, painted cast stone, and fiberglass. Do-it-yourself landscapers and gardeners will like a 48-inch fiberglass St. Francis statue holding a basket that can be purchased over the Internet. The basket makes an attractive flower pot or plant container. A 32-inch Saint Francis bird feeder cast from a wood carving is another religious statue that would complement a backyard, church, or memorial garden.

Another unique St. Francis of Assisi garden statue is a 42-inch Saint Francis water fountain made of relic barro stained cast stone. The statue pumps 180 gallons of water per hour and shows subtle color changes after it rains.

Garden Statues Honoring Jesus, Mary, and Saint Anthony

Other popular garden statues that can be purchased for home or public display include statues of Jesus, Good Shepherd statues, Saint Anthony statues, guardian angels, and Madonna statues, also called Our Lady of Grace, Madonna, Mother Mary, and Lady of Guadalupe.