The Garden Connection – March 2026 | Lent in the Garden: Reflection, Renewal, and Preparation

The season of Lent invites reflection, renewal, and preparation – rhythms that closely mirror the life of a garden. Just as soil is tended in anticipation of new growth, this time of year can offer an opportunity to consider what we are called to cultivate, and what we may be called to let go.

This issue of The Garden Connection explores the connections between spiritual growth and the work of tending the earth, highlighting the ways gardens can encourage reflection, patience, and care for creation as we prepare for the promise of new life in the Easter season.

Read the full newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/a1cea22ff433/lent-in-the-garden-the-garden-connection

Lent arrives in the garden in different ways.

In some places, beds are already filling with early greens. In others, seeds are just being started indoors. And in many parts of the country, the garden is still quiet, waiting for the first real signs of spring. On St. Patrick’s Day, long associated in some places with planting potatoes and the beginning of the growing season, we are reminded how closely faith and the rhythms of the earth have long been intertwined – and how often the work of tending the land becomes a quiet expression of gratitude and hope.

This season invites us to take a closer look – at what we’re tending, what we’re holding onto, and what we might be called to let go of. In the garden, that might mean clearing space, preparing soil, or simply waiting. In our lives, it often looks like making room through prayer, fasting, and generosity.

Nestled among mature trees in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, the Corpus Christi Prayer Garden– a ministry of Corpus Christi Catholic Parish – offers a peaceful space for reflection, prayer, and encounter.

Spanning three acres, the garden includes flower beds, statues, a grotto, and multiple patios with benches for quiet contemplation. A pathway with the Stations of the Cross winds through the garden, inviting visitors to move through the space slowly and prayerfully.

Over time, parishioners and local Scouts have helped shape the garden through projects such as building pathways, planting trees, and creating spaces for gathering. A pond and flowing stream add to the sense of calm and beauty.

Gardens like this remind us that tending the land can also be a way of creating space – for prayer, for community, and for simply being present.

🌿 Garden Saints

St. Ansovinus (March 13) Patron of agriculture and small farmers, St. Ansovinus was known for his generosity to those in need. Stories tell of grain miraculously replenished as he distributed it to the hungry, ensuring that no one was turned away. His life offers a simple reminder of the call to share the fruits of our labor. St. Gertrude of Nivelles (March 17) Considered a patron of gardeners, St. Gertrude is associated with early spring planting. A traditional saying encourages planting peas on her feast day: “When St. Gertrude blows the lights out, sow your peas.” St. Joseph (March 19) Patron of workers and families, St. Joseph models quiet faithfulness. His steady care and humility reflect the kind of patience gardeners know well – returning day after day with attention and trust. St. Patrick (March 17) Often remembered for his missionary work, St. Patrick also reflected deeply on God’s presence in the natural world. His writings reveal a spirituality attentive to creation – a reminder to notice grace in the ordinary rhythms of land and life. His feast day has also been a traditional time to plant potatoes.

Growing and Giving This Season: Fresh for Neighbors

This season, Catholic Garden Network is piloting a new initiative – Fresh for Neighbors: Grow & Give – helping households and parishes share homegrown produce with neighbors experiencing food insecurity. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to reach out to Julene Jarnot at ju****@************en.org.