A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac

'A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac' is full of ideas to plan and cultivate a garden full of unique, biblical plants as well as passages on seasons and feasts. Since many spiritual figures related to gardens and gardening are featured, this almanac works beautifully in tandem with daily devotional readings.

Did you know that a butterfly is also a Christian symbol? Yes, it represents the resurrection. I haven´t known that and a lot of interesting facts presented in this book about spiritual and physical gardening as well.

This is not a book to teach you the gardening techniques. This is the book to let you connect more with God and faith through gardening, to bring more spiritual meaning into time spent nurturing your garden to help you to nurture your soul as well. It contains the meditations for a meaning of every month (for example July is connected with storms) as well as traditions and feasts, saints the month for a gardener, stories, parables and legends, prayers and practical gardening tips among others.

I love how simple authoress´s writing is, and yet how deep and meaningful. She is sharing a lot of spiritual wisdom with her readers, but you don´t feel like having a sermon right here. Maybe because her parables are connected to the practical reality of gardening, so it is easier to imagine and to understand her words.
This is one peace-filled book. I find the combination of physical activity connected to prayer and meditation being very helpful in bringing peace into one´s soul. I do believe the authoress has soldiered a lot of battles in the quietness of her garden, the wisdom of life is very present here.

The book is Catholic, but I think any Christian or open-minded reader can find a simple, enriching wisdom here.

The book is lovely visually as well. A pleasant surprise!

At the very beginning of Scripture, God proclaims that everything He created is good.

And as Timothy tells us in Scripture, “Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer. (1 Timothy 4:4-5).

Consider this book as a starting point for “everything good” in the fruits of the earth.


To my astonishment, I thoroughly enjoed the lovely "A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac: Cultivating Your Faith Throughout the Year" by Margaret Rose Realy, a master gardener, lay Benedictine, and retreat leader.

Why am I so surprised? Even though I love the outdoors, those who know me appreciate that I am do not enjoying gardening very much, even if I do keep a small garden. I’m the kind of person who enjoys mowing the lawn, because when you finish mowing, it looks finished and tidy (at least for a while). Gardening sometimes seems never-ending.

But this book has me not just considering planning and planting a Mary garden after her introduction to this ancient practice. More importantly, this book has helped me connect, in a fresh way, the seasons and the liturgical year.

A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac is a rich, nourishing book about the spirituality of gardening and how gardening metaphors are so apt for the spiritual life.

Each chapter covers a month in the year, its traditions and feasts, both little-known and popular, and how the weather and climate of each month says something about the spiritual journey. Healy also includes gardening tips and ideas for each month. The book is replete with quotes from the saints, interesting legends and traditions related to the earth, and much more.

You can read the rest of my review here: