plant a Mary Garden

We just moved and I woudl like to dedicate our new home to Jesus through Mary.

This will be perfect for me! My front flower beds were just destroyed by someone driving into my home. What a beautiful way to say thank you for keeping all of us safe!

Mary Flower Gardens

Found this awesome website while browsing the other day.
The new apartment opens onto the back yard and the landlord said I can plant a garden! So I’ve been doing a little bit of research.

I got the idea for doing this from a person who cheered me here. Her name is queen of tots. I want to do this too. My Mother In law, who was a dear wonderful soul, passed away on my birthday last year. She always had Mary Garden. I am going to make one too! It’s going to make me really happy. I am going to do this Sunday!
Continuing on this thought.. I told my friend about this and she is going to make a Mary Garden too, for her departed mother and husband. And my daughter said she is going to help me make my Mary Garden. For our departed loved ones: the Grandmas and Sarah.

I haven’t decided where I want the Mary Garden, but I have decided to buy some of the perennials that will go in it. From what I’m reading, I can plant perennials and dig up the bulbs and move them if I want. So, I got tulips first. I chose tulips because the religious name for tulip is Mary’s Prayer. I ordered a “rainbow collection” of many different colors. I’ll plant them this week.

I heard about Mary gardens several years ago and have wanted one since. The problem is that I’m not an experienced gardener. Not even close. So, today I’ve been searching the web for suggestions and ideas. I’ll continue to do that until I know what I need to do first and how to start about it.

Jim has tilled up almost the entire backyard (50’ by 50’)—everything but the Sunflower House and a few areas for paths. We’re going to sow it in buckwheat to kill the existing grass (it’ll shade it to death), then till the buckwheat under, where it will add nutrients to the soil. Once it’s tilled under, we’re going to sow it in buckwheat again, or else in sugar-snap peas (depending on how late in the season it is), and till that under a couple months later. This winter, we’ll plant annual rye, and till it under as well. That way, in the spring, the grass will be but a memory, and the soil will have been improved a great deal over its present condition.

Then next spring I can begin planting my Mary Garden, or Theotokos Garden!

I read about this somewhere and thought it was a great idea. You plant a garden using only plants that are named for the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary, to most of you). There are an awful lot of plants you can use! See: http://www.mgardens.org/

The garden can then be used as a quiet place for prayer and contemplation. Nice.