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Intro Mary Garden
The Herb Society of America
Annual Meeting, May 13 - 16, 1962
Marriott Key Bridge Motor Hotel, Washington, D. C.
Press Report
A Mary Garden
Idahoan's Herb Landscaping Shown at National Meeting
The Idaho Daily Statesman 6/15/62
HAGERMAN - A famous Idaho herb garden drew national interest
among gardeners when it produced a feature display at the anual
meeting of the Herb Society ot America in Washington, D. C. in May.
There were two remarkable aspects to the miniature replica of
her herb garden that Mrs. Ernest Roberson of Hagerman brought to
the meeting. The first, of course, was the fact she could
transport the small plants all the way to the eastern seaboard and
develop them into the largest of the herb exhibits.
This feat was accomplished by digging the plants in Hagerman
and shipping them to Philadelphia where a member of the Herb
Soclety unit there potted them and cared for them until they were
taken by station wagon to Washington the day before the exhibit
opened.
.
Installing the Exhibit
Even more unusual was the plan of Mrs. Roberson's garden. It
is a Mary Garden, in which each plant has its religious name and
significance
Mary Gardens, according to Mrs. Roberson, can be composed of
flowers, shrubs and trees as well as herbs.
"In all", she said, "there are more than 400 plants which at
one time had a total of over 1000 names, symbolisms, legends or
uses associated with the Blessed Virgin. As an herb gardener, I
have planted my Mary Garden mostly with herbs.
"Mary Gardens are of special lnterest to students both of
medieval horticulture and of religion. About half the plants known
to have been grown or collected in medieval times were associated
with the Blessed Virgin in one place or another.
Authorities, such as the Oxford dictionary, which lists some
50 such associations, are in agreement that the words 'Lady' or
'Mary' in the old names ot plants are almost always a
foreshortening of 'Our Lady's' or 'Virgin Mary's.'
Not only are the plants in Mary Gardens significant for their
form, color or liturgical season of bloom, but for all their span
of growth from seed to maturity and death.
"Mary Gardens were often planted around a figure of the Madonna and
Child," sald Mrs. Roberson.
The figure in her display is the Virgin in Majesty, adapted from
medieval figures by liturical artist, Ade Bethune of Newport, RI.
There is a growing interest in gardens of religious significance,
Bible Gardens and Synagogue Gardens, as weli as Mary Gardens among
Catholics and Episcopalians.
The list of Mary Garden herbs is long and contains culinary,
medicinal and perfuming herbs of medieval use, as well as some of
more recent introduction into herb gardens.
The herb gardener (and cook) might well take another look at his or
her plant bed with the knowledge that many a common herb has its
religious name, as well as its impossible botanical one.
For example, Marjoram is Lady's Bedstraw; Rosemary, Mary's Bouquet.
Sage, Mary's Plant (by legend); Sweet Woodruff, Our Lady's Bedstraw;
Chervil, Lady's Needlework; Lovage, Our Lady's Cloth; Horehound and
Catnip, Mary's Nettle; Thyme, Mary's Bed; Spearmint, Our Lady's
Mint; and Parsley, Our Lady's Little Vine.
The tiny blooms of Lily-of-the Valley represent Mary's Tears;
Lavender, Mary's Washing Plant (by legend); Lemon Balm, Sweet Mary,
Sweet Violet, Our Lady's Modesty; Scottish Marigold, Mary's Gold;
and Peony, Mary's Rose.
Mrs. Roberson is a leader in the present-day Mary Garden
restoration movement among Catholics. When lt was learned that she
was preparing her 150 exhibit plants for shlpment she was named
"Idaho promoter of the week," and was special guest of Senator and
Mrs. Frank Church for a tour of Washington after the exhibit
closed.
Reprinted with permission
Photo added.
Hand-Out Sheet at Exhibit
Friends:
This exhibit is a miniature copy of my Mary Garden at
Hagerman, Idaho. Most of the plants were dug in Hagerman in early
April and were shipped to Philadelphia where they were potted and
cared for by Mrs. Edmund G. Thomas of the Philadelphia Unit of the
Herb Society or America. The exhibit was brought to Washington by
station wagon on Saturday.
To those who are not familiar with this phase of gardening - a
few words of explanation. A Mary Garden, or St. Mary's Garden, is
a collection of plants which in medieval times were given religious
names and symbolism referring them to the life of Christ and his
Virgin Mother. In monasteries such gardens and the work of caring
for them were dedicated to the Virgin. The famous Mary Garden at
Melrose Abbey, Scotland, is the subject of the flrst chapter of
Rosetta Clarkson's book, "Green Enchantment". An article on Mary
Gardens appeared in the 1953 edition of the Herb Society
publication, "The Herbarist".
Mary Gardens were often planted around a figure of the Madonna
and Child as focal point. The figure in this garden is the Virgin
in Majesty, adapted from medieval figures by liturgical artist, Ade
Bethune of Newport, Rhode Island.
In all, over 400 herbs, flowers, shrubs and trees have been
found so far which at one time had a total or over 1,000 names,
symbolisms, legends or uses associated with the Virgin. As an herb
gardener I have planted my Mary Garden mostly with herbs. A list
of Mary Garden herbs, many of which are to be found in this
exhibit, is given below.
Mary Gardens are of special interest to students both of
medieval horticulture and of religion. About half the plants known
to have been grown or collected in medieval times were associated
with the Virgin in one place or another. Authorities, such as the
Oxford Dictionary, which lists some 50 such associations, are in
agreement that the words "Lady" or "Mary" in the old names of
plants are almost always a foreshortening of "Our Lady's" or
"Virgin Mary's". The diverse symbolism of such plants reflects
with remarkable comprehensiveness the lives of Jesus and Mary as
found in the Scriptures and the teaching of the Church. For those
who are especially interested I can provide sources for documented
lists of over 350 Mary Garden plants which are horticulturally
available, and also several studies which have been made of their
symbolism.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ernest Roberson Hagerman, Idaho
This list of Mary Garden herbs is comprised of culinary, sweet
smelling and medicinal herbs of medieval use, and also a few of
more recent introduction into herb gardens.
Botanical Name Common Name Religious Name
Aconitum napellus Monkshood Mary's Slippers
Anthriscus cerefolium Chervil Lady's Needlework
Aquilegia vulgaris Columbine Mary's Shoes
Artemisia absinthum Wormnwood Mary's Tree
Asperula odorata Sweet Woodruff Our Lady's Bedstraw
Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold Mary's Gold
Cheiranthus cheiri Gillyflower Mary's Flower
Chrysanthemum balsamita Cost Mary Lady's Herb
Convallaria majalis Lily-of-the-Valley Mary's Tears
Iris germanica Iris Mary's Sword (of sorrow)
Lavendula spica Lavender Mary's Washing Plant
Levisticum officinale Lovage Our Lady's Cloth
Lilium candidum Madonna Lily Mary Lily
Marrubium vulgare Horehound Mary's Nettle
Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm Sweet Mary
Matricaria Chamomilla Matricary Lady's Flower
Mentha spicata Spearmint Our Lady's Mint
Monarda didyma Bergamot Bee Balm Sweet Mary
Nepeta cataria Catnip Mary's Nettle
Oreganum vulgare Marjoram Lady's Bedstraw
Paeonia officinalis Peony Mary's Rose
Petrosolenium crispum Parsley Our L. Little Vine
Primula veris Cowslip Lady's Keys
Primula vulgaris Primrose Lady's Frills
Rosa alba rubicanda Maiden's Blush Incarnation Rose
Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary Mary's Bouquet
Ruta graveolens Rue Herb of Grace
Salvia officinalis Sage Legend: Mary's Plant
Stachys officinalis Woundwort Lady's Finger
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy Jesus-Wort
Thymus serphyllum Thyme Mary's Bed
Viola odorata Sweet Violet Lady's Modesty
Bonnie Roberson
Copyright Mary's Gardens 1962, 1997
List of 100 Herbs