Question: what grows all in a row in mary's garden

title: Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
text: That it is a religious allegory of Catholicism , with Mary being Mary , the mother of Jesus , bells representing the sanctus bells , the cockleshells the badges of the pilgrims to the shrine of Saint James in Spain ( Santiago de Compostela ) and pretty maids are nuns , but even within this strand of thought there are differences of opinion as to whether it is lament for the reinstatement of Catholicism or for its persecution . Another theory sees the rhyme as connected to Mary , Queen of Scots ( 1542 -- 1587 ) , with `` how does your garden grow '' referring to her reign over her realm , `` silver bells '' referring to ( Catholic ) cathedral bells , `` cockle shells '' insinuating that her husband was not faithful to her , and `` pretty maids all in a row '' referring to her ladies - in - waiting -- `` The four Maries '' . In Disney 's The Truth About Mother Goose the `` silver bells '' are said to `` refer to the elaborate decoration on her dresses '' , the `` cockle shells '' to her love of exotic food such as cockles , with the `` pretty maids all in a row '' referring to her ladies - in - waiting . Mary has also been identified with Mary I of England ( 1516 -- 1558 ) with `` How does your garden grow ? '' said to refer to her lack of heirs , or to the common idea that England had become a Catholic vassal or `` branch '' of Spain and the Habsburgs . It is also said to be a punning reference to her chief minister , Stephen Gardiner . `` Quite contrary '' is said to be a reference to her unsuccessful attempt to reverse ecclesiastical changes effected by her father Henry VIII and her brother Edward VI . The `` pretty maids all in a row '' is speculated to be a reference to miscarriages or her execution of Lady Jane Grey . `` Rows and rows '' is said to refer to her executions of Protestants .