Cultivating spaces of worship and reflection
By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
The warmth of springtime ushers in a burst of colors across the landscape, with budding trees, blooming flowers, and burgeoning gardens all pointing to the Creator’s handiwork.
The month of May, traditionally dedicated to Mary, is an ideal time to celebrate this natural beauty by honoring the Queen of Heaven. Gardens become living bouquets, tender offerings to the heavenly Mother, expressing love and seeking her prayers. As she guides the faithful closer to Jesus, the profound connection between the natural world and Marian devotion deepens, enriching spiritual lives with every blossom and bud.
During the Middle Ages, flowers were named with religious significance, turning common plants into symbols of holiness. These names, often derived from events in Jesus’ life or the virtues associated with Mary and the saints, served as educational tools for a largely illiterate population, similar to how stained-glass windows visually narrate biblical stories. Gardens filled with such plants became living classrooms.
Today, many Catholic gardeners continue the venerable tradition. By planting Marian gardens in their yards and on parish grounds, they revere the Blessed Mother, creating spaces of beauty that connect the community with her enduring grace.
Judy Weston, president of the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (LDCCW) and a member of St. Michael Parish in Hastings, is deeply committed to the tradition. She views gardening as more than a hobby—it is a spiritual practice that deepens her connection with God and Mary.
“Gardening is an act of prayer where I find peace and resolve life’s challenges,” Weston said. During her term for the LDCCW, she hopes to inspire more people to establish Marian gardens at homes and parishes across the diocese.
“I love Mary, and I love gardening!” Weston said. “Any garden that connects me with the Blessed Mother is wonderful. There’s a prayerfulness when I work in my gardens, where problems are sorted out, and peace comes to me. Once I connect the flowers to the titles of Mary and the Bible, I’m drawn into Salvation History.
“There is excitement in a garden when it begins to grow. We connect with Mary when we plant our seeds and watch them grow, and Mary loves watching her children grow,” Weston added. “When it is time to weed, we think of confession and there is nothing more satisfying than removing a large weed by its root. God prunes us to increase our faith. You should not be afraid to get dirty, as you cannot rid yourself of problems if you are afraid to get dirty.”
Echoing Weston’s sentiments, Debbie Wahlmeier, also from St. Michael Parish, shared her personal experiences with Mary gardens. Her journey began with a gift—a Marian statue—which she placed in her garden alongside impatiens, a plant that helped her contemplate her own impatience and seek Mary’s intercession in her daily struggles.
“The flowers taught me about prayer and patience, drawing me closer to Mary,” Wahlmeier said. Her approach to gardening emphasizes simplicity and personal connection rather than perfection.
Wahlmeier encouraged others to personalize their Marian gardens, using them as spaces for reflection and conversation with Mary.
“It’s not about the plants or statues but about fostering a dialogue with Our Lady,” she advised.
Her own garden includes plants with special meanings: ivy representing where God walked, Lily of the Valley as Our Lady’s tears, and roses as the Mystical Rose. She delights in the invasive nature of some plants, seeing it as a metaphor for Mary’s pervasive presence in her life.
She noted that sharing plants is a great way to start a Marian garden.
“My roses are from both my grandmothers’ yards and our peonies are from my mother-in-law’s yard, which reminds me to pray for those who were faith-filled witnesses in my life,” Wahlmeier said. “It’s not really about the plants, but about the invitation to prayer that they bring to your garden. Sharing your plants makes them memorable and meaningful.
“Mary was simple and humble,” she continued. “Our Mary gardens can be a reflection of these beautiful virtues. Share the story behind your garden so those visiting it can be drawn into a deeper relationship with Mary, who always leads us to her son. May the work of your hands be for God’s greater glory!”
Wahlmeier’s Marian garden includes personal touches that reflect her relationship with Mary, such as plant labels that include a small miraculous medal.
“One of my gardens has seashells at the base of Mary, reminding me of Mary, Star of the Sea,” she added. “I love to see my grandchildren at the foot of Mary and I pray she wraps her mantle around them as they explore the shells.”
Both Weston and Wahlmeier view Marian gardens not just as aesthetic projects but as profound spiritual undertakings. They suggest starting simply, letting a garden evolve, and using it as a means to share faith and foster deeper connections with Mary and through her, with Christ. Their stories and advice offer inspiration for anyone looking to blend their love of nature with their spiritual life, creating sanctuaries of beauty and prayer in their own backyards.
“As I’ve grown through the hills and valleys of my life,” Wahlmeier said, “I’ve come to know that God often uses the simplest of things and often the simplest of people to make His presence known in ways I could never have anticipated. He knows my wounds, my regrets, and my joys. Mary is my kindred spirit. Even when I can’t find the words to pray, she takes my silent petitions and carries them to Her son, who makes good of all things for His greater glory. It’s not really about the plants or the statue, or creating a perfect garden. It’s about your dialogue and relationship with our Blessed Mother, who always leads us to her son, Our Lord.”
Symbolic plants: Marian flowers foster love for the Blessed Mother
By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
The tradition of Marian gardens, initiated by St. Fiacre in seventh-century France, involves cultivating spaces filled with plants and flowers named after Mary. These gardens serve as beautiful sanctuaries that celebrate Mary’s role and foster contemplation and prayer. Marian gardens are unique and versatile, fitting for expansive landscapes or simple flower pots alike. The plants listed below, rich in symbolism, embody Mary’s virtues and the enduring traditions of Marian devotion.
Purity and Innocence
Lily (Madonna Lily), White Lily: Traditional symbols of purity and majesty.
Daisy (Mary’s Star), Lily of the Valley, Larkspur, Delphinium (Our Lady’s Tears): Represent innocence and Mary’s sorrows, symbolized by the flowers traditionally believed to have sprung from her tears.
Motherly Virtues and Guidance
Roses, Marigold or Sunflower (Mary’s Gold), Impatiens: Love, sorrow, heavenly grace, and maternal patience.
Violet, Thyme, Dandelion: Humility; bitter sorrow.
Columbine (Our Lady’s Shoes), Bellflower (Our Lady’s Thimble), Chamomile (Our Lady’s Mantle) Parsley (Our Lady’s Little Vine), Ground Ivy (Our Lady’s Vine), Zinnia (The Virgin): Guidance, protection, and nurturing.
Heavenly and Royal Symbols
Iris (Mary’s Sword of Sorrow), Fleur-de-Lis, Bachelor’s Button, Cornflower (Mary’s Crown): Royal dignity, purity, and Mary’s celestial crown.
Healing, Soothing, and Devotional Aspects
Lavender (Mary’s Drying Plant), Rosemary (Mary’s Bouquet), Aloe (Trinity), Spearmint (Mary’s Mint): Cleanliness, calming influence, healing, protection, and remembrance.
Periwinkle (Virgin Flower), African Violet (Madonna Flower), Prayer Plant, String of Pearls (Rosary Plant), Tulip (Mary’s Prayer), Petunia (Our Lady’s Praises): Symbols of prayer, devotion, and meditation.
Sacred Narratives and Eternal Symbols
Bleeding Heart, Fuchsia (Mary’s Heart), Foxglove (Our Lady’s Gloves), Holly (Christ’s Thorn), Hyssop (Holy Herb), Forget-Me-Not (Madonna’s Eyes), Pear Tree (Mary’s Fruitfulness): Immaculate heart, protective symbols, and Christ’s passion.
Morning Glory, Myrtle, Snapdragon (Infant Jesus’ Shoes), Snowdrop (Candlemas Bells), Sweet Alyssum (Madonna’s Flower), Peony (Our Lady’s Rose), Poppy, Star of Bethlehem, Strawberries: New beginnings, eternal nature, love, immortality, and the fruits of Mary’s virtue.
