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                                               Intro Mary Garden
Flowers for the Queen of the May


Francine Greenwood, Garden Watch             The Catholic Herald
                                             May 16, 1997
                                   

HERE'S AN IDEA for honouring Mary in this month of May: start
planting a "Mary Garden". The idea of reintroducing the planting of
Mary Gardens came to an American lady, Frances Crane Lillie, in
1932, inspired by her visits to gardens in Britain, and by her own
study and devotion.  Around a figure of Our Lady of the
Annunciation, in church grounds on Cape Cod, she established an
entire garden of plants each bearing traditional names or symbols of
the Blessed Virgin.

After the war, others took up the idea and kept alive this way of
promoting gospel values through contemplative gardening in the "Mary
Garden" movement.

Flowers have a traditional association with Mary. In the 12th
century, St. Bernard spoke of the Blessed Virgin Mary as "the rose
of charity, the lily of chastity, the violet of humility and the
golden gillyflower of heaven".

In the 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi was reported to have
taken care not to step on even the least flower, as it was a symbol
of Holy Mary, the "flower of the field". The earliest record of a
flower named for Mary is "Seint Mary gouldes" (St. Mary's Golds)
included in a 1373 recipe as one of the ingredients of a potion to
"destroie the pestilence".

A religious contemplative of American origin now living in Norfolk,
Sr. Lynn Marie Morrison, is coordinating the activity of Mary's
Gardens and offers newsletters and other mailings, such as lists of
the botanical, common and religious names of over 600 plants from
around the world.  Starter kits of seeds, information and planting
instructions are also sent out by Sr. Lynn Marie, as are
instructions for planting an indoor Dish Mary Garden.

SHE APPRECIATES anything which helps to promote the gardens. "Start
a Mary Garden," she says, "or add Mary-named plants to your present
garden. Have an outdoor shrine. Or encourage your school or church
to start a Mary Garden by donating plants named for Our Lady."

Among some of the 600 or more plants with "popular", or traditional
names after aspects of Our Lady are the Clematis or "Virgin's
Bower", the Columbine or "Our Lady's Slippers", the delicate blue
harebell, called "Our Lady's Thimbles". The Alchemilla vulgaris has
been known as "(Our) Lady's Mantle", and the Hollyhock as "St.
Joseph's Staff".

A statue, small icon or crucifix may be the focal point of a Mary
Garden to encourage contemplation.  "The Mary Garden is an act of
faith. It is primarily a reflection on the meaning behind the
flowers of Our Lady.  That garden is a direct appeal to the heart.
As you ponder the names and descriptions of each flower they will
bloom spiritually within your interior life.  Then, with your garden
stewardship, both interior and exterior gardens will reflect the
wonder of God's creative blessings in our world."

Now is a good time to start this inexpensive initiative, as seeds
sowed and tended in small containers at a sunny site, as on a
window-sill, can be planted out when the seedlings reach two inches
in height, once all danger of frost has passed.

As Sr. Lynn says: "Nature and our gardens speak to our contemplative
heart."

If you would like more information on the Mary Gardens Moosment,
or to receive details of starter kits, seed packets and other
mailings, write to Mary's Gardens, Carmelite Monastery, Quidenham,
Norfolk  NR16 2PH,  or e-mail cygnus@netcomuk.co.uk


Reprinted with permission