Introduction by Jennie Stanger

"...one of my Master Gardener volunteers will teach a seminar for other MG's around the state this summer at MSU on planning a bible garden. I will attach a photo of Olga Einfalt and the tiny garden she lovingly planted in an unused corner at St. Anthony's Catholic church in Temperance, Michigan. It was such a demonstration of love and attracted so many questions, she has been asked to develop a larger one with members' help, so the project will grow, as yours evidently has. Olga is an expert plantswoman and herb gardener, including such tender and legendary plants as bay, fig, myrtle and pomegranate in her plan and taking them up to overwinter indoors. She and her husband Art, who uses his engineering skills to prepare precise
geometric designs and layouts for her, have designed many of the formal herb gardens at the Toledo Botanical Gardens just across our county border in Ohio, and some lovely oval knots here at our Extension Demonstration gardens.

-County Consumer Horticulture Agent
Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service, Monroe MI

A new garden was been planted in 1996 at St. Anthony Church in Temperance, Michigan, containing some of the herbs that are mentioned in the Bible. In addition to the herbs that are mentioned, there are herbs associated with legends. The garden is situated at the back of the church near the side entrance.
This endeavor has been undertaken by the Parent Teachers Guild of St. Anthony School and an alumna of the school. Although it got started at a late date, the soil was thoroughly prepared earlier by volunteers of the guild. Due to the fact that there is an air conditioner unit in the garden space, a special cover was constructed and stained to obscure it.
Most of the herb plants were purchased from local greenhouses and or nurseries, in addition to some donated by members of the parish.
The garden incorporates two designs that are found in the stained glass windows in the church and are the main focal point of the garden – these two designs are framed in old brick.

The above listed herbs are all growing in the garden. There are two Bays planted in urns, as they are not winter hardy here. The rosemary, myrtle and the pomegranate are also tender herbs and have to be wintered over inside.
Early in the fall, bulbs of Madonna Lilies and other small bulbs were planted. These are known as “The flowers of the field”. In the spring of 1997 plants of the fig, grape and olive were added to the garden as container plants.
The garden attracted a great deal of attention and served an educational as well as an ornamental purpose. The gardeners hoped that after seeing the plants growing, people would find the scripture passages and legends more meaningful.
In 2002, after a construction project on the church building, the garden was expanded into a broader design, incorporating even more plants.

References

An excellent reference is the small book Bible Plants for American Gardens by Eleanor Anthony King, which is expected to be available in the conference book sale. Another of my favorites is Planting a Bible Garden by F. Nigel Hepper of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Both books were still available, along with many other inexpensive references, from amazon.com in June 2002.
You can view a sample of Nigel Hepper's garden designs on the internet. http://www.biblicalgardens.org/build_your-garden.htm
A pastor in Vermont maintains a website including information about his church's bible gardens including how to order copies of their booklets of scripture references and plant information. (That's me! You're here!)