Search results
Lyrics. William Wallace Denslow 's rendition of the poem, 1901. The most common modern version is: Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row. [1] The oldest known version was first published in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book (1744) with the lyrics that are shown here:
- Pick the Right Location. Picking a good location for your garden is absolutely key. A subpar location can result in subpar veggies! Here are a few tips for choosing a good site
- Choosing a Plot Size: Start Small! Remember: It’s better to be proud of a small garden than be frustrated by a big one! One of the most common errors beginners make is planting too much too soon—way more than anybody could ever eat or want!
- Choosing Vegetables. As a beginner, start by choosing easy vegetables that are also productive. We’ve listed some of the easiest vegetables for beginners below.
- Where and When to Plant. This process is easy if you are simply growing two or three tomato plants. But if you plan to grow a full garden, you need to consider
How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockleshells. And pretty maids all in a row. Source: The Dorling Kindersley Book of Nursery Rhymes (2000) Mary, Mary, quite contrary.
- Origins
- Lyric Versions
- Terms
- Possible Meanings
- The Garden
- Religion
- Likely Meaning Today
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
“Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” is an English nursery rhyme that is often sung by children at play. To many, the little ditty has a meaning akin to something religious. To others, it is about governorship or even fertility. But, of course, its origins and actual meanings are disputed. And while some think it points to historical figures in the 16th ce...
Today the most common version of the lyrics go like this: Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row Yet, there are other versions that have popped up in history, as well. For example, the oldest known version of the rhyme was published in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book...
For clarification, a “cockle” is a bivalve mollusk that resides on sandy, sheltered beaches throughout the world. And a “cuckold” is understood as either a husband with an adulterous wife, or in biology terminology, a male who takes care of children who are not genetically his. And a “cowslip” is a type of flowering plant. Much to digest.
As noted, the meaning of the nursery rhyme is disputed. It’s vague enough to offer many interpretations, and due to its variations in ending lines and verbiage, there are many ways to understand the history of the meaning, as well as the meaning itself. For example, some say Mary refers to Jesus’ mother, and thus, the rhyme is about the spread of C...
But maybe the most important part of the rhyme is the idea of the garden. For any bit of song to stick around for hundreds of years, there likely has to be many applications and interpretations. One meaning doesn’t tend to stick in history, but several have a better chance. Therefore, the garden growing may mean some idea of fertility. How does Mar...
Some believe the “bells” in the rhyme represent the sanctus bells and that the cockleshells are the badges of the pilgrims to the shrine of Saint James in Spain. The pretty maids are the nuns. Another theory is that it wonders how Mary, Queen of Scots’ reign grows, and the silver bells are her cathedral bells, the cockle shells are implying that he...
More likely, the rhyme is about feminine growth of some sort, which is a fundamental, crucial part of human existence. The species is furthered by women, who give birth to more, and therefore, wisdom and governance and anything else that comes from humanity. And it is the thoughtful women—the contrarians—who perhaps are best at that, in the end, wh...
The rhyme asks how Mary's garden grows with silver bells, cockle shells and pretty maids. It may refer to Mary's fertility, religion, governance or contrariness, but the meaning is disputed and vague.
- Jacob Uitti
- Senior Writer
Learn how to improve your soil, design your garden, and choose the right plants for your space. This article covers the basics of gardening, from soil testing to composting, from island beds to color schemes.
Sep 18, 2012 · How does your garden grow? With honey bees and cherry trees. Sunflowers under rainbows. Mary, Mary, quite contrary. Where do you long to go? To meet a friend and pretend. Your whole world is a...
Learn how to grow a healthy garden with six factors to consider, such as soil, compost, planting area, beds, plants, and watering. Find tips and FAQs on how to maintain, prune, and protect your plants from pests and diseases.
