History of Mary Gardens:

A Mary garden may be a single indoor pot, a large plot outdoors, or anything in between. They can be found at parishes, schools, homes, shrines, convents and other institutions.

The statue of Mary, sometimes holding the Infant Christ, is central to the garden. Select flowers, shrubs, and trees associated with Our Lady are planted in the garden. Such plants may include laurel trees, strawberries, ladyslippers, lilies of the valley, peonies, violets, irises and roses, all of which are identified as symbolic and significant in the story of Mary as recounted in the Bible and other Catholic stories.

The practice originated among monasteries and convents in medieval Europe. During the Middle Ages, people saw reminders of Mary in the flowers and herbs growing around them. The first reference to an actual garden dedicated to Mary is from the life of St. Fiacre, Irish patron saint of gardening, who planted and tended a garden around the oratory to Our Lady he built at his famous hospice for the poor and infirm in France in the 7th Century. The first record of a flower actually named for Mary is that of "seint mary gouldes" (St. Mary's Gold or Marygold) for the Pot Marigold or Calendula, in a 1373 English recipe for a potion to ward off the plague.

Immaculate Conception's garden contains:

Bleeding heart (DIcentra spectabilis) "Mary's Heart" – looks like a pierced heart, representing Mary’s heart pierced with sorrow when Jesus was crucified.

Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris plena) "Our Lady's Shoes" - Said to have sprung up under Our Lady's feet as traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The dove-shaped petals of this flower recalls the Holy Spirit and the Feast of the Pentecost, when Mary was present as the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles.

Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa forbesii) - Its blue and white color is traditionally associated with Mary and the name of this flower recalls one of Mary's titles, Our Lady of the Snows. Legend has it that In 352 A.D., Mary indicated in a dream to a wealthy Roman couple that she wanted a church built in her honor and she would indicate the location with snow. On a hot August morning, Esquiline Hill in Rome was covered with snow. This was considered a miracle, and a church was built on the hill in 358 A.D., which still exists and is known as the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) "Our Lady's Adversary" - Its broomlike blooms remind us of Mary's vocation as wife and mother

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) "Lily among Thorns" - a symbol of Christian prudence, peace of mind, and the desire for Heaven.

Iris (Iris reticulata) "Mary's Sword of Sorrow" - so called because of its swordlike blooms, and a reminder of the sorrows that pierced Mary’s heart.

Christmas rose (Helleborus) – A reminder of Mary as mother of the Infant Jesus.

Narcissus (Narcissus) "Mary’s Star" – Blooms near the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25, when the angel Gabriel visited Mary. Its starlike shape is reminiscent of Mary’s crown of 12 stars mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Pansy (Viola tricolor) "Trinity Flower", "Our Lady's Delight" – Considered to represent the Trinity, and are also called Our Lady’s Delight, because Mary was the first to know of the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

Plantain lily (Hosta) "Assumption Lily" – It blooms around the date of the feast of the Assumption on August 15. Lilies have been considered a symbol of purity since ancient times.

Rose (Rosa) – Since the earliest days of Christianity, the rose, the queen of flowers, has been a symbol of Mary, the Queen of Heaven.

Tulip (Tulipa) "Mary's Prayer" - represents Mary’s fullness of grace. Its upward-facing cup or chalice reflects Mary’s openness to what God asked of her.

Viola (Violaceae) "Our Lady's Modesty" – Their small size reminds us of Mary’s humility, and are said to have blossomed when Mary replied to the Angel Gabriel, "I am the handmaid of the Lord."