It’s a pious and treasured tradition to crown the Blessed Mother with flowers in early Spring by planting a Mary garden during the Marian month of May.

The tradition of planting Mary gardens is old: it stretches back to the 7th century in early medieval Europe, originating as a practice among convents and monasteries. During the time, people saw religious symbolism in the herbs and flowers around them  and priests, religious brothers, and sisters would use them as tools to teach others about the Faith, especially the illiterate, reminiscent of stained glass windows being used to tell Biblical stories.

The first historical reference to a Mary garden dates back the 7th century, when Saint Fiacre of Breuil emigrated from Ireland to France to build an hermitage there. During his time in the monastery where he was raised and became a monk, Fiacre “imbibed knowledge of herbal medicine.”

When he arrived in France, he built his hermitage with a personal dwelling, a vegetable & herb garden, a hospice to care for strangers, and a gardened oratory to the Virgin Mary – the first historical example of a Mary garden.

Fiacre was known for his life of devotion to prayer, fasting, vigils, and tending to his garden, earning himself the patronage of gardeners and herbalists.

“His fame for miracles was widespread. He cured all manner of diseases by laying on his hands.”

The second historical example of a Marian connection to flowers is found in a 1373 English recipe for a potion to ward off the plague, featuring the seint mary gouldes, otherwise known as Saint Mary’s Gold or the Marigold.

Over time, flowers in Mary gardens developed symbolism to the events in Mary’s life:

  • Lily
    Mary was associated with this passage from the Song of Songs: “I am the Rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.” (2:1) A legend from the second century says that when Mary’s tomb was opened to show Thomas that her body had been assumed into heaven, it was filled with roses and lilies.
  • Columbine
    Also known as “Our Lady’s Shoes,” Columbine is said to have sprung up wherever Mary’s foot touched the ground on her way to visit her cousin Elizabeth.
  • Lavender
    Known as “Mary’s Drying Plant,” lavender was said to have received its scent after Mary laid Jesus’ clothes on it to dry.
  • Madonna Lily
    The angel Gabriel is said to have been holding a lily, representing purity, when he appeared to Mary to announce she would bear a child – lilies are often included in artistic renditions of the annunciation.
  • Marigold
    The marigold was called “Mary’s Gold” by early Christians who placed the flowers around statues of Mary, offering the blossoms in place of coins. A legend says that during the flight into Egypt the Holy Family was accosted by a band of thieves. They took Mary’s purse and when they opened it, marigolds fell out.
  • Violet
    The violet is associated with humility and became known as “Our Lady’s Modesty.” It was said to have blossomed when Mary replied to the Angel Gabriel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.”
  • Irises
    Irises were used in Mary Gardens. The blade-shaped foliage denotes the sorrows which ‘pierced her heart.’
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  2. Saints Fiacre, Jacinta, Veronica Guiliani, pray for us.
    All holy men and women, martyrs, saints, angels, pray for us.
    Holy Family of Nazareth, restore matrimony and family life.
    Transform all of mankind’s iniquity into integrity. Amen.
    Ecce Crucem Domini!
    Fugite partes adversae!
    Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,
    Radix David! Alleluia!
    Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us. For Italy.
    Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us. For Rome.
    Blood of Christ Crucified, cleanse the Vatican.
    Holy Mary, help the helpless. Such beauty in your humility.
    Let wildflowers and perennials bloom all for God’s glory.

    • Oops. Meant that to read Saint Veronica Giuliani, pray for us. Especially for Mary the Mother of God to be named co-redemptrix and co-mediatrix with her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Protect the church built in your honour in Armenia. Protect and empower all persecuted Christians. Amen.

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