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Intro Mary Garden
Two Books For Mary Gardeners - A Review
John S. Stokes Jr
Two books of importance to Mary Gardeners have recently been
published on the history and design of religiously inspired gardens:
Rooted In the Spirit - Exploring Inspirational Gardens, by
Maureen Gilmer, Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas; and
Catholic Traditions in the Garden, by Ann Ball, Our Sunday
Visitor Press, Huntingdon, Indiana.
Rooted in the Spirit is the most comprehensive and in depth survey
we have found of gardens in Christian tradition through the
centuries - in the context of religious gardens from the major world
traditions. Included are suggestions and plans for planting gardens
of religious inspiration in various settings today, drawing on the
resources of landscape gardening design.
Catholic Traditions in the Garden draws from the same history,
with emphasis on devotional customs from many countries, and
instructions for making numerous garden artifacts adding interest
and meaning for family gardens."
The books may be obtained from book stores.
Rooted may also be obtained online by way of the author's
Landscape Garden Forum on the Internet at
http://www.gardenforum.com
Click on Books, and then Rooted (now available)
Catholic Traditions may also be ordered by mail from
Our Sunday Vistor by calling 1-800-348-2440
o O o
The scope of Rooted In The Spirit is succinctly summarized in the
jacket description:
"In Rooted in the Spirit: Exploring Inspirational Gardens
you will discover how to link your garden and the act of
gardening to deep spirituality. Author Maureen Gilmer deftly
combines history, symbolism, religious meaning, folklore, and
myth with practical aspects of garden design and a variety of
stunning visuals. In an amazing sweep of spiritual history she
illuminates the role of religious thought in the landscape -
from Roman memorial gardens and Celtic sacred pools to
monastic herb gardens. Rooted in the Spirit explores the
myriad meanings with which humans have imbued nature; plants
used for healing; plants as a source of beauty, relaxation and
contemplation; and plants as conduits to the spiritual realm.
You'll discover fascinating information on the role of trees
in worship, the Virgin Mary's appearance in plant names, the
Incan reverence for corn, the soothing Egyptian water gardens,
the purpose of labyrinths, and today's Gardens for Peace. . ."
Identifying spiritual or sacred gardens as special, hallowed ground
reserved and used for rest, recollection, prayer and religious
celebration, the author surveys such gardens in a variety of
settings as found through history, including Shrine Gardens, Water
Gardens, Countrysides, Monastic Gardens, Medieval Gardens, Grotto
Gardens, Mary Gardens, Memorial Gardens, Celestial Gardens and Urban
Gardens.
Of importance for Mary gardeners in addition to the chapter on
"Mary's Garden", which provides background information, numerous
legends and a list of Flowers of Our Lady, are the descriptions of
universal elements of religious garden design from other religious
traditions:
"Gilmer...offers inspiration on how to create your own
spiritual garden, whether you are a gardener of a particular
faith or simply find nature to be personally inspiring and
fulfilling. With enchanting watercolors, (she) discusses
the basic elements needed: the arrangement of space, the
selection of plants and the addition of constructed elements
to support the overall theme. A special chapter is also
devoted to the urban garden, offering important tips and
strategies...to create a calming oasis within a limited amount
of space . . .
". . . The text...is beautifully woven around more than 200
exquisite color photographs by acclaimed photographer Jerry
Pavia who has captured breathtaking inspirational gardens and
sites in Europe, the United States, and Canada: the Cloisters,
Washington Cathedral, Buchart Gardens, Lindisfarne Abbey,
Stonehenge, as well as many private gardens."
o O o
Catholic Traditions in the Garden, as summarized on
its back cover, invites the reader to:
"Celebrate the riches of Catholic tradition with "how-to"
projects that reflect God's good earth and its gifts. From
butterfly houses to herbal vinegars to beeswax candles,
aromatherapy, and more. Catholic Traditions in the Garden
draws faith into daily life by recalling the beauties of
God's creation and the myriad ways the saints have woven the
lessons of creation into their lives and teaching.
"Skillfully blending history, tradition and story, popular
author Ann Ball presents a tantalizing selection of products,
reflecting a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds and cultures.
With an emphasis on simplicity and practicality, the projects
are suitable for all ages and abilities, as well as for use in
both urban and rural environments."
In the Introduction the author writes:
"The Catholic Church is global. Throughout its history there
are strands of many traditions, including those that celebrate
nature. The people of the Church come from many cultures;
each of these cultures contributes to the beauty of our living
Faith. In today's world, a look at some of these traditions
can provide a way to draw our Faith into our daily lives.
This book can serve as a brief 'time out' to help the reader
recall the beauties of God's creation."
The chapters of the book are: The Pope Speaks on Nature; The Garden
of Eden and the Beginnings of Gardening; Bible and Medieval Gardens;
Heavenly, Holy Herbs; Gardening Customs From Around the World;
Sacred Gardens; Mary Gardens; and Saintly Gardens.
o O o
Applications to Mary Garden Design and Reflection
Rooted, with its descriptions and photos, beautifully instructs us
in the use of space to lead us into the garden, and thence into its
various areas, and from its interior to look out into the distance
of the landscape (p. ):
"Inspire...means to 'infuse animation, to quicken, to arouse,
and to impel.' Thus an inspirational garden must urge us to
respond in some way. To create a garden inspired by our souls
and spirits is to reclaim the origins of true inspiration
known so well by artists, poets and lovers. The gem beyond all
price is the human heart. It is enriched by the simple things,
the flowers and the birds, cooling shade, the sound of falling
water, and every creation of earth and the heavens. To
celebrate the garden rooted deeply in our spirits is the
rediscovery of what has been known for thousands of years: that
nature is the greatest cathedral of all, the most stunning of
creations, providing us the ideal environment in which to
cultivate our souls"
This passage brings to mind a medieval text for guiding pilgrims (in
those days mostly illiterate) in visiting a cathedral. On entering
the cathedral and blessing ourselves with holy water, we are to
first experience a sense of spiritual presence from the vaulted
ceilings, the light of the stained glass windows, the smell of
incense, the flickering candles and the quiet. We are then led to
reflect on the sculptured programs setting forth the events of
sacred history from the creation and fall through the kings, the
prophets and Isaiah's prophecy of the Redeemer. We turn next in
veneration to the central rose window of the Incarnation, with the
Blessed Virgin and Child at its center, and to the sculptured
"Incarnation cycle" ("Joyful Mysteries") of the tympannum.
Coming then to the sacrificial altar, at the center of the
cross-shaped basilica, with its crucifix, reliquary and reserved
Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, we kneel before it in adoration
- rapt in spiritual communion with the crucified Christ. Rising to
leave, we behold the saints depicted in the stained glass windows,
and finally the tympannum of the Last Judgement.
Returning from the cathedral to our lives in the world, we are
inspired to join our encountered sorrows and sufferings ever more
fully with those of Christ in his Passion and Cross - as he has
already taken them upon himself as his - that we, united with him as
his members, may "make up what is wanting in the sufferings of
Christ" for the culmination in history of his redemption of the
world, already won on the Cross.
As a cathedral thus so inspiringly focuses our hearts, minds and
souls on Christ's redemptive sacrifice; so do blest nature and the
garden, religiously viewed, inspire us with rapture over the
goodness and beauty of Creation through which God shows forth and
shares with us the divine goodness, beauty and truth - the Creation
he has redeemed on the Cross for transformation on the Last Day
into the eternal new heaven and new earth for our unending sharing
through our immortal souls and resurrected bodies.
The Mary Garden is the epitome of religious gardens in that its
primary purpose is not utilitarian - for enjoyment, decoration,
landscaping, food, medecine, rest, relaxation, retreat, or
entertainment - but for recollection, prayer, veneration, and for
our inspiration in our call to transform the world for its sharing
and celebration by all.
It culminates Christian tradition in gardening in that the focal
figure and the archtypical flower truths - together with the
symbolism of the life and mysteries of Christ and his Most Holy
Virgin Mother set forth in the medieval Flowers of Our Lady -
present for reflection, meditation and emulation, by "eyes that can
see", the fullness of the truths of creation, redemption,
sanctification and kingdom, much as they are presented in the
cathedral.
Like medieval pilgrims to the cathedrals, however, we are in need of
instruction, so that as we tend the Flowers of Our Lady through the
days, weeks and seasons in our Mary Gardens, the meanings of their
archtypical and symbolic forms, colors and growth may become
instilled in our active imaginations, for ready reflection and
quickening in the Holy Spirit.
For our instruction in this, we are to take as our starting point
the teaching of the Prologue to the John Gospel that all things in
heaven and on earth were created through the Divine Word, and
therefore in a unity and correspondence between the things of heaven
and the things of earth: "As above, so below". From this is derived
the medieval doctrine of "signatures" - of the discoverability in
creatures of their endowment with God's truth, as well as his
goodness and beauty, for the fullness of divine sharing with humans
- the very purpose of Creation.
From this we are to discover more specifically the truth of God
shown forth in flowers, as well as his goodness and beauty - drawing
for this from Scripture, the Church Fathers, the Liturgy, and the
Saints, and especially from the popular religious traditions of the
medieval countrysides.
First we come to recognize from the Sapiential Books, the Prophets,
the Gospel Parables, the Church Fathers and the Saints, the basic
archtypical symbolism of flowers:
- The Mystery of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - in
the three-fold forms and colors of flowers and foliage, as
taught by St. Patrick (Shamrock, Fleur de Lis, Pansy, Aloe).
- The pure goodness, beauty and mystery of the creating God, the
Father, in the forms, translucence and colors of flowers
(Eden, Flowery Meade, Paradise).
- The virgin birth of God, the Son, in the blossoming of flowers,
archetypes thereby of Blessed Mary, the Virgin Mother of God,
from which are derived all Flowers of Our Lady (Rod of Jesse,
Rose, Rose Windows).
- The death and resurrection of the redeeming God, the Son, in
the seasonal death and rebirth of flowers (Easter Lily,
Resurrection Flowers).
- The turning of hearts and souls to God, the illuminating Holy
Spirit, in the reaching of flowers, especially golden
flowers, to the light of the sun (Marigold, Sun Flower).
Next, from the oral traditions of the medieval countrysides, we
learn of the "galaxy" of the Flowers of Our Lady, symbolizing the
gospel life and Rosary mysteries of Jesus and Mary. In the
transition from medieval oral tradition to the written tradition
introduced with the invention of printing, much of this medieval
flower symbolism suffered an eclipse for a time, until it was
rediscovered and written down through the field research of
botanists, folklorists and lexicographers.
Our first step in this is to learn the old names of the flowers and
thereby to perceive their symbolism as we behold their forms and
colors - in pictures, and then directly in the garden. Then in
caring for them through the year, our more immediate familiarity
with them attunes us for spontaneous quickening to reflection.
Marian flower symbolism has a special unction because of its origins
largely in the medieval countrysides, before the days of flower
gardening - where plants were known, loved and reflected on one by
one as they bloomed in the wild through the natural and liturgical
years, as described in Judith Smith's book, The Mary Calendar
(1932); and where they were used in the rural liturgical festivals
of each season, as described in Alfred Dowling's The Flora of the
Sacred Nativity (1900). The Mary Garden is thus a "Medieval
Countryside in a Garden".
On entering the Mary Garden, we are first quickened to spiritual
recollection, meditation and prayer by its spiritual space, and by
the luminescence and fragrance of its flowers - raising our thoughts
to our creating God in a grateful return of love, thanksgiving,
praise, spiritual communion and rapture.
As we proceed into the garden, reflecting now more specifically, as
in the cathedral, on the creedal Christian truths - presented here
in the flower archetypes - we ponder our Creation and Redemption,
and our call to Sanctification for the building of God's Kingdom of
truth, justice, love, freedom and material sufficiency, in the
light and prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Then, coming to the focal Marian sculpture, we consider the Gospel
story and Rosary mysteries mirrored in the specific symbolism of the
surrounding flowers - "that by meditating on these mysteries we may
imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise."
On entering a Mary Garden which we know well, we do not have to
consider the flower archetypes and symbols one by one. Knowing they
are there, and being familiar wih their locations, we perceive them
all together as a symbolical mosaic or mandala, with whose fullness
of meanings we are intuitively inspired.
It is of course possible for one to enjoy the beauty and overall
spiritual sense of the Mary Garden without having familiarity with
the flower symbols, just as one is inspired by the spiritual quality
of the cathedral on first entering it. But not proceding to the
focal sculpture and reflecting on the flower archetypes and symbols
of the Mary Garden is like not reflecting on the sculptured programs
and altar of the cathedral.
Once we have reflected on the fulless of the Mary Garden symbolism,
we then return from it to the tasks of our daily lives, with the
aspiration on our lips:
"All for you my Jesus, through Mary, for the love of Creation,
Redemption and Kingdom - for all eternity."
The Mary Garden is thus a garden of archetypical and symbolic plants
composed in a blest, spiritual, garden setting, before or around a
focal figure of the Blessed Virgin or Virgin and Child - quickening
us to meditation, to prayer and to heightened religious commitment
in our lives.
We thank the authors of Rooted in the Spirit and Catholic
Traditions in Gardening for inspiring this restatement of the
essence of Mary Gardening.
Copyright Mary's Gardens 1998
Mary Garden Prayer