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Intro Mary Garden
Mary Garden Design and Plant Selection Guide
(See also: A Review - Mary Garden Design Computer Software)
The Steward-Artist
In starting your Mary Garden, consider first where and how you
will plant. Be an artist for Our Lady. Make prayer your intent;
the love of the Flowers of Our Lady your inspiration; and the plant
shapes and colors your palette. Order your Mary Garden - whether
one bed, or several - to provide a harmonious design and setting
for the plants and blooms which, by your stewardship, will come of
the brush of the Divine Artist, in honor of Our Lady.
Site - Select the overall area or site for Our Lady's Garden.
Plan - Make a scaled drawing or sketch of your garden bed design
for the site, using quadrille paper with 1/4" horizontal and
vertical rulings and a scale of 1/4" of plan space = 3" of garden
space (4 squares to the foot) - giving consideration first to
the following overall design elements:
- Enclosure. The border or edge which sets the garden apart
as distinct from its surroundings: "a garden enclosed."
- Axes. One or two imaginary lines establishing the basic
divisions or symmetry of the garden area.
- Focal Point. A statue or wayside shrine of Our Lady, a
crucifix, a pool, etc., to give a central or terminal focus
for the design, to which the plants are ordered.
- Bed or Beds - using pathways where necessary so you can
access each bed to tend the plants, and so visitors can view
the plant name markers and symbolism from close at hand;
harmonious in form and arrangement; and proportioned to the
enclosure, axes and focal point.
Then, using this Guide, choose the plants and where you want to
locate them - entering their names, or identifying numbers you may
give them, on the Plan - giving consideration to the following:
- Sun and Shade. Examine the site in relation to surrounding
buildings, walls and trees, and note those areas of the Plan
which will have:
Full Sun - five or more hours a day,
Shade - little or no direct sun, but open northern sky,
or filtered sunlight through leaves of trees, and
Partial Shade - some sun and some shade.
Then choose plants for each of these areas from the
corresponding Sun, Shade, Partial Shade sections of this list,
considering:
- Color. Select areas or combinations of color for harmonious
composition of the total design:
Blue and Purple
Red
Orange and yellow
White
- Plant Sizes. Place plants with their heights proportioned
to their positions in the beds and in relation to the focal
point - with lower plants at the borders, and taller ones
toward the rear or against walls or shrubs.
- Groupings. Locate low, border plants about 12" apart along
the edges of each bed. Then - so the symbolical forms of
the remaining plants will stand out clearly - place several
plants of each variety together in 2ft. wide groups of 3 or
4 plants.
- Bloom Sequence. Make any changes necesary to sustain each
area of color with a continuing sequence of blooms Spring,
Summer and Fall.
(Note: hardy, long-blooming Pansies (Our Lady's Delight) and
English Daisies (Mary-Loves) are recommended as early border
plants, while there is still some frost at night - to be
supplemented and/or replaced for the warm growing season with
French marigolds (Mary's Gold), petunias (Our Lady's Praises) and
impatiens (Mother Love)).
When your plan is completed, make a list of the plants and their
quantities for your use in plant procurement. Then, picture the
garden in your imagination and make adjustments which seem
appropriate - substituting any favorite plants you may have
inadvertently left out.
Using Plant ID Numbers, refer to Flowers of Our Lady Data
Base to obtain botanical names for ordering seeds, bulbs and plants.
Summary:
Select site and bed design
Note sun and shade conditions
Consider areas and combinations of colors
Start marking locations of plants on your plan
Choose plant heights proportioned to the beds and focal point
Place several plants of each variety together
Review and adjust plan, considering sequence of blooms
Make list of required plants and quantities
Procure plants (or start from seed for growth later)
As you care for garden, make notes for future changes to plan
KEY
Plants For Full Sun
ID RELIGIOUS NAME COMMON NAME COLOR BLOOM HT(") G
102 O.L. Laurel Feb Daphne Purple Feb-Mar 48 P
616 (Legend, O.L.) Rosemary Blue May 24-48 P
703 Emblem of O.L. Lady Iris Blue-Purple May 18 P
307 O.L. Lkg Glass Venus' Looking Gls Blue Jun 9 A
607 O.L. Resting Pl Veronica Blue Jun 12-18 P
619 Blue-Eyed Mary Blue-Eyed Grass Blue Jun 12 P
303 O.L Flannel Viper's Bugloss Blue Jun-Jul 24-49 A
305 O.L in-Shade Love-in-a-Mist Blue, White Jun-Sep 12-24 A
414 O.L Flower Blue Pimpernel Blue Jun-Sep 8 A
615 O.L. Sorrel Oxalis Blue-Lavdr Jun-Sep 9 P
403 O.L. Pincushion Sweet Scabious Purp-Rose Jun-Sep 24 A
416 Madonna's Pins Heron's Bill Blue-Violet Jun-Sep 15 A
408 O.L Smock Morning Glory, Engl White Jun-Sep CL* A
417 O.L Mantle Morning Glory, Amer Blue Jun-Sep CL* A
608 Our Lady's Bell Bell Flower Blue Jul-Aug 30 P
203 O.L. Cowslip Goat's Rue Blue-Purple Jul-Aug 35 P
206 Our Lady's Rue Meadow Rue Lavdr-Purpl Jul-Aug 50 P
211 Rose of Sharon Rose of Sharon Purple-Red Aug 6-12ftP
604 Virgin Pink Garden Pink Red-Pink May-Jun 12 P
603 Mary's Rose Carnation Crimson Jun 10 P
105 Our Lady's Rose Scotch Rose Pink, White Jun 48 P
501 O.L. Nightcap Canterbury Bells Rose,Vi, Wh Jun-Jul 12-48 B
502 Our Lady's Tuft Sweet William Red,Purp,Wh Jun-Aug 18 B
605 Mary's Rose Rose Campion Rose,Crimsn Jun-Sep 12-24 P
814 Mary's Rose Rose, Crimson Glory Red-Crimson Jun,Sep 24-36 P
611 Sweet Mary Red Valerian Red,Crimson Jun-Sep 12-36 P
304 Virgin Stock Virginian Stock Red,Lilc,Wh Jun-Sep 12 A
306 Mary's Rose Sweet Wm Catchfly Rose, Pink Jun-Sep 12 A
410 Mary's Thistle Blessed Thistle Rose-Purple Jun-Sep 12-48 B
402 O.L. Earrings Garden Balsam Red,Pink,Wh Jun-Sep 25-30 A
805 O.L. Ruffles Dropwort Pnk,Purp,Wh Jul-Aug 12-96 P
419 Mother Love Patient Lucy Pink,Red,Wh May-Sep 12-24 A
209 Mary's Drink Mountain Tobacco Gold-Orange Jun 20 P
617 Herb of Grace Rue Dull-Yellow Jun 18-24 P
609 O.L Fingers Kidney Vetch Yellow,Pink Jun 16 P
418 Mary's Gold Livingston Daisy. Gold,Varied Jun-Sep 2 A
612 O.L.Paint Brush Orange Hawkweed Orange Jul-Aug 12 P
406 O.L. Tresses Quaking Grass Yellow-Grn Jul-Sep 12-24 A
407 Mary's Gold Annual ChrysanthemumGolden Yell Jul-Sep 12-18 A
409 Mary's Gold African Marigold Yellow-Orng Jul-Sep 24-30 A
807 O.L Bedstraw Yellow Bedstraw Yellow Jul-Aug 12 P
803 (Star of Bethlm)Golden Chrysanth. Yellow-Gold Oct-Nov 24 P
610 O.L. Cushion Rock Cress White Apr 1 5 P
705 O.L. Ruffles Dble White Narcis White Apr 1 8-24 P
706 Mary's Tears Star of Bethlehem White Jun 5-8 P
415 Mary's Tears Job's Tears Pearl, Gray Jun-Sep 24-48 A
*Climber
Plants Which Prefer Full Sun; will Tolerate Partial Shade
812 Mary's Tears Lungwort Blue-Violet Mar-Apr 6-12 P
207 O.L. Petticoat Wood Anemone Light Purpl May-Jun 3-8 P
216 O.L. Modesty Sweet Violet Blue-Violet May-Jun 10 P
808 Madonna's Pins Wild Cranesbill Mauv to Lav May-Jun 25 P
215 O.L. Tears Spiderwort Blue-Violet May-Jun 20 P
602 O.L.Thimble Harebell Blue-Violet May-Sep 15 P
302 Blue-Eyed Mary Collinsea Blu-Vio,Whi May-Jun 20 A
504 O.L. Basin Fuller's Teasel Blu to Lilc Jun-Jul 60-72 P
101 Mary's Slipper Monk's Hood Blue Jul-Aug 48 P
202 O.L Birthday Fl Italian Aster Blu to Rose Aug-Sep 24 P
201 O.L. Pincushion Thrift Rose toPink Apr 8-12 P
804 Mary's Heart Bleeding Heart Rose May 20 P
606 Mary's Pink German Catchfly Rose Pink May 20 P
413 Mary's Rose English Daisy Pink to Red May-Sep 6 B
503 O.L. Glove. Foxglove Wh Rose,Pur Jun 60 B
204 Mary's Hand Five Fingers . Salmn-CrimsnJun-Jul 14 P
810 Mary's Rose Peony Rose Jun-Jul 24-36 P
301 Mary's Rose Pheasant's Eye Crimson Jun-Jul 20 A
613 Rose of Sharon Rose of Sharon Red Jul-Aug 12' P
801 O.L. Mantle Lady's Mantle Cream t Yel May-Jun 6-8 P
506 O.L. Candle Great Mullein Yellow Jun-Aug 24-72 B
404 Mary's Gold French Marigold Yel to Orng Jun-Sep 16 A
401 Mary's Bud Pot Marigold Yel to Orng Jun-Sep 18-24 A
701 O.L. Tears Lily-of-the-Valley White Apr-May 6-10 P
704 Annunc. Lily Madonna Lily Waxy White Jun 24-48 P
104 O.L. Fingers Honeysuckle Yello-White Jun-Jul CL* P
618 O.L.by-the-Gate Soapwort Pinkish Wh Jul-Aug 18-30 P
411 O.L. Delight Pansy Yel,Pur,Whi Apr-Sep 6 B
412 O.L. Delight Johnny Jump-Up Yel,Pur,Whi Apr-Sep 6 B
601 O.L. Shoes Columbine Varied May 24 P
405 St. Jos. Staff Hollyhock Varied Jun-Sep 72 B
*Climber
Plants Which Do Better in Partial Shade
208 O.L.of the Snow Lady of the Snow Purple Apr 6 P
505 Eyes of Mary Forget-Me-Not Blue Apr 12 B
811 O.L. Wedding Wild Sweet William Pinkish Blu May 10 P
212 O.L. Cushion Rockfoil Violet-Rose May 6 P
614 Madonna's Herb Kenilworth ivy Lilac-Blue Jun 3 P
806 O.L. Eardrops Garden Fuchsia Red, Purple May-Sep 12-36 P
205 Our Lady's Keys Cowslip Primrose Yellow Apr 8 P
103 Christmas Rose Christmas Rose White Feb-Mar 12 P
702 Candlemas Bells Snow-Drop White Mar 6-9 P
210 O.L. Smock Cuckoo-Pint White Apr 10 P
813 Our Lady's Seal Solomon's Seal White May 36 P
213 Our Lady's Seal False Solomon Seal Creamy Whit May 18-36 P
214 O.L of Meadow Meadowsweet White Jun 24-48 P
809 Assumption Lily White Day Lily Waxy White Aug 12-20 P
802 Our Lady's Fern Lady-Fern Green May-Oct 18 P
Copyright Mary's Gardens 1955, 1996
Additional Plant Lists:
- 100 Popular Mary Garden Flowers
- 200 Mary Garden Flowers, Shrubs and Trees
- 100 Herbs of Our Lady
Mary's Gardens Home Page