The Gardens
Genesis of the Gardens
Planning for a Biblical and Marian Garden in Juneau, Alaska, started with the Columbarium site in 1998. As more areas of the Shrine were developed for visitors’ use, gardens along the rosary trail and around the labyrinth were added, mainly using plants named in the Bible or named for Mary, Jesus, Joseph, or one of the saints.
Gardens in Scripture: Symbolism and Spiritual Imagery
The Bible opens with God placing the first humans in the Garden of Eden. “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed; to work it and keep it.” (Gen 2:8, 15). Hundreds of scripture references to plants, gardens, and vineyards throughout the Old and New Testaments exist; even the Hebrew word that we translate as “Paradise” means walled garden.
Just as Genesis opens with a garden scene, Revelation closes with a garden image. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the trees of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22:1-2).
The Shrine Gardens
The Shrine has over 13,000 square feet of cultivated gardens containing approximately 165 species. Some species common to the Holy Land are hardy enough to grow in our local climate, while others are adaptations of species since the cool, wet Southeast Alaska climate is vastly different from that of the Holy Land. Where plant name substitutions were made, plants with similar characteristics were selected.
Blended with the biblical plant references are also plants named in honor of the Blessed Mother, Mary, Jesus, Joseph, or one of the Saints. Since ordinary people didn’t read in the Middle Ages, monks and missionaries shared stories using plant names to illustrate Mary’s holy life and virtues. Marian gardens were first recorded in the seventh century and became popular across Europe and Great Britain over time. In the early 1950s, John Stokes Jr. revived the tradition and brought it to America.
The Shrine gardens are composed of plants similar to those growing in the Holy Land, blended with plants whose names or physical features reflect aspects of the spirituality demonstrated by the holy lives of Mary, Jesus, Joseph, or one of the Saints.
Experience Our Gardens
The real joy of these gardens is in remembering the scripture stories, then meditating on them in our own lives. May each visitor find renewal in reflecting on these common plants and the stories they represent.
Mail Driveway
Garden
Sq. Ft
Circle Garden
530
Columbarium
Garden
Sq. Ft
Mary Garden left of the cross
280
Mary Garden right of the cross
500
Old Testament bed
120
Resurrection bed
120
Upper bench with trees and shrubs
800
Causeway
Garden
Sq. Ft
Intersection Garden
100
St. Francis Bed
400
Labyrinth
Garden
Sq. Ft
Barrel planters
30
North/West berm (toward columbarium and Pearl Harbor)
600
Paths, bow ties and petals
900
Small triangle garden across driveway from the Lodge
150
South/West berm (toward Shrine office)
800
Lodge
Garden
Sq. Ft
Berm (parallel to driveway in front of Lodge)
800
Garden bed near cabin
100
Rosary Trail
Garden
Sq. Ft
Joyful Mysteries, plus island, and rock walls
1,000
Entrance to Joyful Mysteries
240
Glorious Mysteries, island and rock walls
1,000
Grotto and red-white gardens on either side
400
Hosta bed between Glorious Mysteries and Grotto
1,000
Luminous Mysteries, plus island and rock walls
800
Sorrowful Mysteries, plus island and rock walls
1200
Lower Parking Lot
Garden
Sq. Ft
Bed
360
Upper Parking Lot
Garden
Sq. Ft
Mary’s View Trail berm
1500
Chapel
Garden
Sq. Ft
St. Therese Statue garden
100
Ready to Explore the Shrine?
Download our campus map to guide your exploration through the sacred sites.
Volunteers, the Backbone of the Shrine!
From the beach stones gathered that make up the walls of the Shrine Chapel to the plants that grace the Marian and Biblical Gardens, all are the work of volunteers giving their time for the greater glory of God. Are you being called to this work?