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aussieannie
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We are very close to re-establishing our Mary garden, so VERY exciting for us!
I am reading a book "Mary Flowers" by Vincenzina Krymow. I really want to plant 'Marian' flowers in particular.
From that book I've checked off the following that I am able to get locally, which I've listed below.
Can anyone share their recommendations from this list, what they know to be an easy grower, lovely flowers etc.?
violet
Star Of Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum
Jobs Tear Coix lacryma-jobi
Juniper Juniperus communis
Saint Mary's Thistle Silybum marianum
Blue Flag Iris versicolour
Lily-of-the-Valley Conval laria majalis
Solomons Seal Polygonatum spp.
Lady's Bedstraw Gallium verum
Ladies Smock Cardamine pratensis
Ladies Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris
Carnation, Love Pinks Dianthus caryophyllus
Costmary Chrysanthe mum balsamita
Centaury Centaurium erythraea
Ox-Eye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium
Cowslip Primula veris
Sweet Woodruff Asperula odorata
Wormwood, Roman Artemisia pontica
Rose Campion Lychnis coronaria
Rosehip Rosa canina
Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca
Betony Stachys officinalis
Belladonna Atropa belladonna
Thyme, Wild Thymus serphyllum
Rue Ruta graveolens
Saint John's Wort, Prostrate Hypericum perforatum elixir
Spanish Moss Tillandsia usneoides
Edelweiss Leontopod ium alpinum
Feverfew Chrysanthe mum parthenium
Periwinkle, Lesser Vinca minor
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans
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stellamaris
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This looks lovely. One caution I would make is that vinca minor (periwinkle), while it is a lovely ground cover, gets very thick and will smother small flowers. Like ivy, it can really take over an area and require a lot of trimming/pulling it up to control here in our Virginia climate. I'd check with local gardeners to be sure it's not too invasive where you live, or put it in an area where it can spread under larger bushes and trees.
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JennGM
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Hmmm, I know thyme will grow easily and nicely. Dandelions -- way too easily. I'm not brave to actually PLANT them!  But I can send a few dead ones your way...
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aussieannie
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If the dandelions try to take off, I'll be able to strip back their leaves and dry them out...my own dried herb!  Thyme is actually another one that will be handy for me as I use it a bit in the kitchen.
Thanks for the heads up on the periwinkle, that's the sort of thing I need to know!
I think I'll make up little wooden signs for each plant in the garden, a bit like this:
"Mary's Purification"
Cinquefoil
It'll be good for the children, very visual, a great way to learn and be aware just what the plants represent.
I'll have to take some before and after shots...it doesn't look too good at present. 
We hope to put in a cream sandstone brick retaining wall about knee high and our statue of Our Lady of Grace is also in cream stone with a matching pedestal.
My deadline is the 24th of May, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians - a very special Marian feast for Australians..it falls on a Sunday this year - Yay! So I hope to have the garden completed for a big May Day Crowning.
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TxTrish
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I can grow daisy's. So, I would have to say they are an easy grower.
I also like this website for Mary Garden info: http://www.mgardens.org/
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MaryM
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Yes, I second daisies being easy to grow. And feverfew as well - both pretty hardy.
I love violets and lily-of-the-valley - both are beautiful and have delicate flowers. Once they are established both are pretty easy to grow and maintain.
Sweet Woodruff is hardy - likes shadier areas.
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Betsy
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I have steered clear of Lily-of-the-valley because I believe it is poisonous if eaten. But, I do love them.
I would recommend taking your list to a large green house and talking with some knowledgeable staff there.
When I was planning mine last year I made a list, like yours. When I took it in they were able to give me recommendations of cultivars that thrived in my hot climate and tell me which plants won't grow in this area(even though some literature says they will).
One example was carnations. Real carnations don't grow in my area well, but I was able to substitute a cultivar of dianthus that bloomed all summer and tolerated heat and drought. It's my nature to be a purist...but I needed to override this desire to get plants that would grow!!
Betsy
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florasita
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Anne I was going to post violet first off ! I love flowers you can eat ;-)
I love pansies and johnny jump ups I had a pansy garden in our Mary garden last yr dedicated to my Aunt Pansy who passed away last summer @ 96 yrs .
how about poppy they re-seed too , malo is nice pink or purple flowers . lily of the vally is poisoness . I have day lilly which apparently can be eaten I think .I think they fry the flowers in china . the mary garden site is so good for listing the represntations of each flower because I forget them all . There are different ones from medeval times or rennasaince times etc.
I have a sacred heart garden too and this yr want to start a st. Fiacre & and ST. Isadore garden . Ilike the idea of making time and effort into little areas working with each saint . the sacred heart garden is where 3 of our miscarried babes were placed under my rose bush you saw on the blog .
You already have such a long list Anne I don't know much more to add to it .
I do like portulaca ( sp?) they come in such nice vibrant colours but I have to buy them each summer and am trying to get more and more into flowers that are perrennials or I can start by seed or root .
have to run . Take care and I hope to see some pics of your efforts in your garden soon ;-)
God Bless , Roxie
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JennGM
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Are any of these plants considered invasive in certain areas? I was thinking of trying to build my garden with more native plants, or at least those that won't cause problems.
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JodieLyn
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marigolds? I like marigolds.. they're so cheerful.. and they're supposed to help keep bugs away. and there are SO many varieties these days.. I had some last year that were a creamy white.. and they come with short small flowers or taller and bigger flowers etc. So that you could find a variety that would work in lots of locations.. they love sun and tolerate heat well.
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JodieLyn
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oh and on poisonous plants.. for instance poinsetta.. you often have to eat a lot for it to have any negative effect. And they usually taste nasty too.. so you might check into how poisonous they really are.. is it dangerous if a child gets a piece in their mouth.. or would they have to eat a large salad of it.
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Betsy
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JodieLyn wrote:
| oh and on poisonous plants.. for instance poinsetta.. you often have to eat a lot for it to have any negative effect. And they usually taste nasty too.. so you might check into how poisonous they really are.. is it dangerous if a child gets a piece in their mouth.. or would they have to eat a large salad of it. |
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Thanks for the tip! Although I wouldn't put my voracious eaters past it!
Betsy
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Mary K
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dandelions? violets? that means almost my entire yard is a Mary Garden. (no outside statue, though). They're safely inside with my 6 and 3 yo daily flowers nearby.
God bless,
Mary-NY
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aussieannie
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I did forget to add that we are in a sub-tropical climate...all those plants I've listed above are available to me but they post all over Australia, and it has a wide variety of climates...though this business IS only an hour or so from my home, though it may get just a little colder than us, since we are by the sea...
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Flowers for Mary Garden
