What is a Mary Garden?

What is a ‘Mary Garden?’

A ‘Mary Garden’ is a garden that has specific plants that have been dedicated to Mary, Christ, the Church, and the Saints.

What is its purpose? To remind us of our Catholic tradition that has been passed down through the ages by being immersed through physical and spiritual practices.  The garden acts as a spiritual aid or living illustration to help us grow closer to God through his first word, creation.

Like any garden, whether a flower, vegetable, pollinator, healing, or themed garden, a ‘Mary Garden’ is planted with a purpose. It can be a combination of any or all these elements, including statues of Our Lady of the Saints.

It is planned with the purpose of helping us grow in faith, feeling a connection to the Creator through His creation, and even to share or express our faith with others.

A key component of a ‘Mary Garden’ are plants referred to by our forefathers and mothers as her ‘signatures’ that have a floral tradition, legend, or lore connected with the Faith. Read our blog A Brief History of Mary Gardens to learn more.

We tried to adhere as close as possible to the oral traditions that were preserved by the monks of medieval times. A modern ‘Mary Garden’ allows us to garden in the shadow of many of our religious brothers and sisters who came before us as they pass on their expression of ‘the Faith’ to us today.