Mary Garden Presentation
Flowers of the Fairest…
A PowerPoint Presentation on the History, Theology and Design of Mary Gardens
The method of comparing flowers to theological truths or spiritual principles revives an earlier tradition of the Church. This ‘theology of nature’ is not new, but stems from the very beginnings of Christianity, reaching its apex in the late Middle Ages.
The Church utilized symbolic plants and flowers on the various feast days, and nature became a sort of ‘catechism’ for those who could not read.
The research of John S. Stokes and Edward McTague resulted in the founding of the Mary Garden Movement in the United States and has renewed interest and appreciation of flower symbolism and theology. This, it is hoped, will help renew and regraft the link between nature - plants and flowers - with the liturgy. Children are especially receptive to this manner of teaching by associating flowers with virtues due to their forms or names.
Flowers of the Fairest is a PowerPoint presentation consisting of more than 80 slides. The full presentation takes approximately one hour including a short mid-point break. This will be a suitable offering for Church groups, garden clubs and organizations, academic institutions…in short, for anyone with an interest in knowing more about Mary Gardens and in honoring Our Lady by planning and designing their own Mary Garden.