“I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.” (Song of Solomon 2:1) In the days of great faith during the Middle Ages, the Christian faithful honored the Blessed Virgin Mary in many ways, especially as the mother of nature and all living things. Closely connected with what grows from the earth as their livelihood, they saw Mary's attributes in the plants and flowers of their fields and gardens and named many of them after her - thousands of them. Legends about the flowers developed as people sought to connect them with Mary's virtues or events from her life. People also planted "Mary Gardens" and filled them with these plants named for Our Lady. These gardens were designed to be places of beauty, prayer, and contemplation that raises the heart and mind to heaven. Featured in this slideshow are just 12 among the many plants named for the Blessed Mother. You can find more information on Mary Gardens here: http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/flowers.html and here: https://fisheaters.com/marygardens.html. You can find a great selection of religious garden gifts to plant your own MaryGarden at The Catholic Company here: http://www.catholiccompany.com/catholic-garden-c2794/

1. 12Flowers
that speak of
Our Lady
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2. OUR LADY'S
Flowers
Presenting
In an age of greater love for the Christian faith,
nature was seen to praise the virtues of heaven's
saints - especially the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here are
just twelve of the thousands of plants the faithful
have named after the Queen of Heaven and Earth,
and the pious beliefs they associated with them.
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3. VIOLET
O u r L ad y's
M o d es ty
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4. VIOLET
The Pious Legend
Mary's Modesty
This low-lying plant was often associated with
humility and became known as Our Lady's Modesty.
It was said to have blossomed when the Virgin Mary
said to the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation,
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord."
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5. COLUMBINE
O u r L ady 's
S li p per s
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6. COLUMBINE
The Pious Legend
Mary's Slippers
The spurred flower of this plant resembles a
little dove and came to symbolize the Holy Spirit.
Columbine is said to have sprung up wherever
Mary’s foot touched the earth as she was on her
way to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, at the Visitation.
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7. OX-EYE DAISY
Ou r L ady ’s
Star
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8. OX-EYE DAISY
The Pious Legend
Mary's Star
When the Wise Men reached the village of Bethlehem,
they looked for a further sign. Suddenly King Melchior
saw a strange white and gold flower that looked like the
star that had led them to Bethlehem. As he bent to pick it,
the door of a stable opened and he saw the Holy Family.
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9. SNOWDROP
O u r L ady 's
P u r it y
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10. SNOWDROP
The Pious legend
Mary's Purity
Snowdrops were called the Flower of Purification
because they bloomed in early February near the
Feast of the Purification of Mary. Also called
Candlemas Bells, this was also the day of the
Presentation of Baby Jesus in the Jerusalem temple.
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11. JUNIPER
O u r L a d y's
Sh e l te r
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12. JUNIPER
The Pious Legend
Mary's Shelter
It is said that the juniper bush saved the life of the
infant Jesus during the Holy Family's flight into
Egypt. As the soldiers pursued them, a juniper bush
growing nearby opened up its thick branches to
provide them hiding and shelter until the soldiers left.
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13. MARIGOLD
O u r L a d y's
G o ld
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14. MARIGOLD
The Pious Legend
Mary's Gold
It is said that during the Holy Family's flight to Egypt
they were accosted by robbers. When they opened Mary's
purse they found these buds. In medieval days the poor
would leave marigold blossoms at the feet of Our Lady
instead of gold coins. The flower also symbolizes the rays
of light that surround the Blessed Virgin in her glory.
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15. SEA PINK - THRIFT
O u r L ady 's
C u sh io n
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16. SEA PINK - THRIFT
The Pious legend
Mary's Cushion
It is said that on their flight into Egypt, these soft
blossoms became a seat cushion for the Blessed
Virgin Mary to rest upon, weary from her travels.
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17. FUSCHIA
O u r L a d y's
Ea r -D r o p s
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18. FUSCIA
The Pious legend
Mary's Ear-Drops
The gently drooping flowers resemble ear-drops, or
pendant earrings. It is said that the Child Jesus, while
at play, hung these flowers on his mother's ears.
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19. LILY OF THE VALLEY
O u r L a d y's
Tea r s
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20. LILY OF THE VALLEY
The Pious Legend
Mary's Tears
When viewed from a distance, the white flowers of
this plant give the appearance of teardrops falling.
It was said that when Mary wept at the foot of the
Cross, her tears fell to the ground and turned into the
tiny fragrant blossoms of this early spring plant.
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21. IRIS - SWORD LILY
O u r L a d y's
So r r ow s
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22. IRIS - SWORD LILY
The Pious legend
Mary's Sorrows
The Iris, also known and the Sword Lily, has a shape
that symbolizes the swords of sorrow which pierced
Mary's heart on account of her Divine Son. This flower
is the pattern of the Fleur-di-Lis symbol of Our Lady.
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23. ASSUMPTION LILY
O u r L ady 's
A s s u m pt io n
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24. ASSUMPTION LILY
The Pious legend
Mary's Assumption
The Assumption Lily blossoms in August near the
Feast of the Assumption with a tall flower that
reaches up to the sky. It is said that when the body
of Our Lady was assumed into heaven, left behind
in the tomb were white lilies and roses.
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25. ROSE
th e M y s ti cal
R o s e
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26. ROSE
The Pious legend
Mary the Mystical Rose
The Virgin Mary is associated with the biblical Rose
of Sharon. As the rose is considered the queen of all
flowers, it is closely associated with Mary, Queen of
Heaven and Earth. It is said that the ancient white
Rosa Alba turned pink when Mary blushed at the
angel's greeting at the Annunciation.
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27. MAKE
YOUR OWN
M a r y G ar d e n
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28. Feeling Inspired?
Because Faith Matters
Shop Religious Garden Gifts at
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While pious legends, these stories convey deeper
spiritual realities that are, nevertheless, true.
Incorporate these plants into your Mary Garden
to create a prayerful place of meditation at home.

29. The Catholic Company
Because Faith Matters
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