How to Make a Quick and Easy Mary Garden for Kids

Primary Blog/How to Make a Quick and Easy Mary Garden for Kids

I have to admit that having my own garden has always intimidated me. Plus we move around so much being an active duty Army family, that I just kept thinking that maybe one day I could take up gardening in some form. But guys, I kill EVERY plant that I come into contact with. But not for long! It is definitely on my list of things to improve on and future goals.

I figured I could start small with my own little Mary garden that I could sit near and pray the rosary, share with my girls and just have in our home as a reminder of our Blessed Mother and her love for us.

As I began learning about the history of Mary gardens and how specific flowers represent certain characteristics of her, I became even more intrigued. That’s when I came across the sweetest book that inspired us to create some super simple paper flower gardens for Mary that will stay vibrant all year round.

THE BOOK

My Mama’s Garden by Mary Williams is a precious story for children that helps them understand how we as Catholics can turn to Mary as the ultimate advocate to bring our prayers to her Son. And it is a beautiful visual of how we can use gardens to honor our Blessed Mother.

From the book:
“Hail Mary full of grace, my heavenly light, be with me as I grow, help me do what is right. You are with me each day awake or asleep, you are always there, my journey to keep. My love for you and your Son in my soul I will carry, so I come to your garden, dear Mama Mary.”

Another book we used to help explain the significance of different types of flowers as they relate to Mary is A Garden for Mary by Neena Gaynor.

I have a more detailed Mary Garden Collage art project with a printable step-by-step lesson and full-length video tutorial in our Little Holy Hearts Art Club where the kids create a paper statue as well, but I wanted to offer a lighter version of that project to everyone because it was such a hit with my girls and our members.

All you need is 30 minutes and a few supplies to make this quick and easy Mary garden. Enjoy!

PREP

Here is what you need to make this art project:

9″ x 12″ white sulphite paper

Kwik Stix (solid tempera paint sticks)

Black oil pastel

CREATE

Here is how it all came together:

Starting on the bottom left side of the paper, draw a rose shape with the Kwik Stix. I chose red, but kids can pick whatever color they want! Encourage the kids to be brave… that is do not start with a pencil. You want to put the colors and shapes down, filling the white space, then go in with a little more “cleaning up” or outlining with a black oil pastel later.

The rose can symbolize her Queenship of Heaven and a symbol of her love for God and for her Son.

Color in the roses with the paint stick. You can even blend colors like pink and white with the red to make tints of color.

Above the roses, use red and pink to draw carnations. These shapes are slightly wider at the top and shorter than the roses. Add green stems and leaves.

The carnation can symbolize Mary as Mother of God’s love.

All the way on the right side of the paper, starting at the very top, make purple circles in two vertical rows leaving room for a stem to create larkspurs.

Larkspurs can symbolize Mary’s tears.

In between the roses and larkspur, use orange to draw a squiggly outline of a marigold. Color in with orange and yellow, blending the two colors together. Add more marigolds if you wish. Add stems and leaves.

Marigolds can represent Mary’s gold and a symbol of her veneration and praise.

Fill in the last white space of the paper with a blue starburst shape for a cornflower. You can combine light blue and dark blue or even add a little bit of purple.

Cornflowers can symbolize Mary’s crown.

After the paint has dried for a minute or two, add details to form the petals and outline the shapes of the flowers and stems to pull it all together with black oil pastel.

Let us know what you think! If you made this project, please tag us on Instagram @littleholyhearts

We'd love to see what you make!

Hi, I'm Marisa!

Founder of Little Holy Hearts

And my mission is to help you transform art time with kids into meaningful moments that help their love for Christ and His Church shine in their art and in their hearts!

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