The very first occupation given to humanity in the Bible was that of a gardener. When Adam was created, he was placed in the Garden of Eden and entrusted with its care:
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it." (Genesis 2:15, RSV-CE)
This foundational moment in Genesis highlights humanity’s role as stewards of God’s creation. To till and keep the land was not merely a job for Adam but a vocation given to all of humanity - a sacred duty to cherish and protect the earth that God has entrusted to us.
The Gardens of the Bible
Throughout Scripture, gardens continue to appear as places of beauty, testing, suffering, and renewal. These natural sanctuaries provide rich symbolism for our spiritual journey and our relationship with God.
The Garden of Eden: The Lost Paradise
The first garden, Eden, was a place of perfection where Adam and Eve walked in communion with God. However, through disobedience, sin entered the world, and humanity was cast out of this paradise.
Eden represents both the perfect harmony God intended for creation and the tragic loss brought about by sin.
The Garden of Gethsemane: A Place of Agony and Surrender
Centuries later, another garden—Gethsemane—became the setting for Christ’s deep anguish before His Passion. In the stillness of the olive trees, Jesus prayed to the Father, surrendering to the divine will:
"Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42, RSV-CE)
Unlike Adam, who failed the test of obedience in Eden, Christ in Gethsemane fully embraced the Father’s will, bringing forth salvation for all. This garden, where Jesus suffered in anticipation of the Cross, reminds us of the weight of our sins but also of Christ’s unfailing love and sacrifice.
The Garden of the Resurrection: New Life and Hope
After His crucifixion, Jesus was buried in a garden tomb. It was in this very place that Mary Magdalene encountered the Risen Christ:
"Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’" (John 20:15, RSV-CE)
Mary mistaking Jesus for a gardener is no accident. It echoes back to Adam, the first gardener, but now Christ is the New Adam - the one who restores what was lost. This garden represents hope, renewal, and the promise of eternal life.
Other Gardens of Scripture
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Gardens appear throughout the Bible as places of blessing, fruitfulness, and restoration.
The Song of Songs describes a garden overflowing with love and beauty (Song of Songs 4:12-15), while the prophet Isaiah speaks of Israel as the Lord’s vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). Even in Revelation, the final book of the Bible, we are promised a return to a restored paradise where the tree of life flourishes once more (Revelation 22:1-2).
Our Role as Gardeners of Creation
The theme of gardens in the Bible is not merely symbolic; it carries a real call to action. As Christians, we are called to be stewards of creation, caring for the earth just as Adam was called to till and keep Eden. Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si’, reminds us:
"Each community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for subsistence, but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations." (Laudato Si’, 67)
Our Lady Of Lourdes - Garden Project
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Milton is taking this call seriously as part of our 2027 celebrations.
Plans are already in place for a wild garden space at the far end of our land behind the parish hall - a project that will mature over time and provide a sanctuary for wildlife and parishioners alike. Work has already stated with the stripping of grass and more updates will be posted here.
To complement this initiative, we hope to introduce a “bug hotel,” an exciting and educational project, particularly for our children. This small structure, made of natural materials, will provide a safe habitat for beneficial insects such as bees, butterflies, and ladybirds, playing a vital role in pollination and biodiversity.
Engaging our children in such projects not only teaches them about the beauty of God’s creation but also instils in them a sense of responsibility for the world they will inherit.
Our Lady Of Lourdes - Our Lady Of The Garden
Originating in the 15th century in Chiavari, Italy, this devotion centres on Our Lady as the gentle cultivator of our souls, nurturing faith, hope, and love within us, just as a gardener tends to delicate flowers and plants.
At Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Milton, this
devotion takes on a tangible form through the parish’s small yet serene garden, dedicated to the Blessed Mother.
This sacred space serves as a refuge for prayer and reflection, inviting parishioners and visitors to find solace in her maternal embrace.
Also within the gardens of Our Lady of Lourdes is the beautiful grotto depicting Saint Bernadette kneeling in reverence before Our Lady, a powerful reminder of the Marian apparitions at Lourdes and the call to deeper faith and conversion.
The connection between Our Lady of the Garden and Our Lady of Lourdes is deeply significant.
Just as Mary appeared to Bernadette in a rocky grotto surrounded by natural beauty, she is also venerated as the spiritual gardener, tending to the hearts of the faithful.
The garden at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church embodies this devotion, offering a space where the community can meditate on Mary's role in guiding souls toward Christ.
Through this devotion, we are reminded that Mary, the Mother of God, continues to intercede for us, cultivating virtues within us as we journey in faith. Whether one is drawn to the garden for quiet prayer or to gaze upon the grotto’s depiction of Our Lady and Saint Bernadette, the experience is one of grace, peace, and renewal.
In embracing the devotion to Our Lady of the Garden, we are invited to entrust our spiritual growth to her care, confident that she, as the Mother of all, will lead us ever closer to her Son, Jesus Christ.
The Spiritual Lessons of a Garden
Gardens require patience, care, and dedication. In many ways, they mirror our spiritual lives. Just as we cultivate soil, prune weeds, and wait for flowers to bloom, so too must we cultivate virtue, root out sin, and patiently grow in faith.
Jesus often used agricultural imagery in His parables, reminding us that the Kingdom of God is like a seed that must be nurtured (Mark 4:26-29). Our personal faith journey, much like a garden, requires daily attention—prayer, Scripture reading, and acts of love and service.
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Tending to the Gardens of Our Souls and Our World
The Bible’s numerous gardens teach us about God’s plan for creation, redemption, and restoration. From Eden to Gethsemane to the Resurrection garden, we see how God works through nature to reveal His divine mysteries.
As we prepare for the 2027 celebrations at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Milton, let us embrace our call as stewards of God’s earth. May our wild garden and bug hotel not only be a physical reflection of our love for creation but also a reminder of our duty to nurture our spiritual lives with the same care and devotion.
Let us take inspiration from the great gardens of Scripture and commit ourselves anew to protecting and cherishing the beautiful world God has given us. After all, we are all gardeners in God’s vineyard, tending to the earth and our souls in anticipation of the eternal paradise to come.