A Garden For Our Lady

Plants and flowers associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary originated with the early Church Fathers, who saw her prefigured in passages from the Old Testament containing nature. In Britain, so many plants originally had Marian names and meanings, that it was actually possible to have themed “Mary Gardens” based around particular attributes of Our Lady and her life – a garden specifically devoted to her virtues, or her earthly life, or her joys and sorrows for example. Mary Gardens flourished right up to the time of the Reformation.

Here is an exquisitely illustrated guide to creating a Mary Garden in the home, parish, school or monastery, with an extensive guide to traditional English plant names dedicated to Our Lady, their legends, use in art and in prayer and meditation.