Mary Garden

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard. Cypress with spikenard. Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the trees of Lebanon, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes. The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Lebanon. Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and let the aromatical spices thereof flow. (Canticle of Canticles 4: 12-16)

How many here are aware of Mary Garden’s? And how many have one (or more) or are planning on creating one?

I have a small piece of earth that already holds a statue of Our Lady of Grace and a ground cover shaped into a heart. I am planning on creating a Mary Garden according to this plan. In the future, when I have some more land, I would like to have a more extensive Mary Garden.

 

[LilyM]

Hello,

My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard. Cypress with spikenard. Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the trees of Lebanon, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes. The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Lebanon. Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and let the aromatical spices thereof flow. (Canticle of Canticles 4: 12-16)

How many here are aware of Mary Garden’s? And how many have one (or more) or are planning on creating one?

I have a small piece of earth that already holds a statue of Our Lady of Grace and a ground cover shaped into a heart. I am planning on creating a Mary Garden according to this plan. In the future, when I have some more land, I would like to have a more extensive Mary Garden.

“My sister, my spouse”? Thought that sort of thing went out with Cleopatra!

 

[Rawb]

I’d like to have one someday, once I have my own backyard. I like gardening - have since I was a kid, so I think (if I have any) my kids would like to help out in Mary’s Garden. There’re a lot of other benefits too; flowers for a family May Crowning, dinner table, home altar, feast days, etc. We used to always plant a bed of flowers out front of our house for my Mom on Mother’s day; get up really early and my dad would ‘coordinate’. I also like to pray the rosary around growing plants, it helps me meditate on the mysteries, so a Mary Garden would be ideal for that I think.

Someday!

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

“My sister, my spouse”? Thought that sort of thing went out with Cleopatra!

That is not what is implied!

This language is biblical and not what we would always use in everyday conversation. There have been several ideas as to what is exactly being expressed by that phrase, none of which include familial relationships. I believe that the most common and popular is that is expresses a love that goes beyond that of husband and wife. If you read Deus Caritas Est, then it should make more sense. The love expressed goes beyond eros to include agape. It is truly the fullness of the love that is God that is being expressed.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

I’d like to have one someday, once I have my own backyard. I like gardening - have since I was a kid, so I think (if I have any) my kids would like to help out in Mary’s Garden. There’re a lot of other benefits too; flowers for a family May Crowning, dinner table, home altar, feast days, etc. We used to always plant a bed of flowers out front of our house for my Mom on Mother’s day; get up really early and my dad would ‘coordinate’. I also like to pray the rosary around growing plants, it helps me meditate on the mysteries, so a Mary Garden would be ideal for that I think.

Someday!

NICE!!

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Here’s a thread from earlier in the season it has a link or two that could be useful. Actually one looks the same.

Also, “garden enclosed” from the above verse from the Song of Songs is usually interpreted as a metaphor for a woman’s body. Not sure if “garden” is ever interpreted literally here.

 

[TexRose]

Yes, I posted about it a while back. We’re in the process of making one. We have planted 2 trees in that area. We’re going to place 2 benches alongside the trees so that we can sit to pray or meditate. I’m also looking for a statue of Mary. Gosh, it really has to be a 3 ft statue probably, because our Mary garden is going to be huge. lol I have to buy more of the Windsor stone. I cannot wait to finish it.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

Also, “garden enclosed” from the above verse from the Song of Songs is usually interpreted as a metaphor for a woman’s body. Not sure if “garden” is ever interpreted literally here.

I’ve never heard that interpretation before. One general interpretation is that it represents the Church and only the faithful are inside.

I view it in a mystical way. I see the garden as a Carmel, a word which comes from the semitic meaning “garden of God”. I see it in two ways. The garden being the Church entire, and each one of us members of that Church are a plant in the garden. The holier we are the nicer of a plant we are in that garden.

The other way is that the garden is our own soul. In the desert of our heart is an oasis, watered by the Holy Spirit (the fountain from Lebanon). It is up to us to grow that garden into a true paradise (e.g. become a Saint). Of course, it is hard work and can hurt - digging into hard crusty soil you know.

I see Mary as a true exemplar in both cases. She is the most beautiful rose in all of the universal garden. And her inner Carmel is the most beautiful paradise one can imagine.