We are now in receipt of drafts of the Garden Site Plan and Narrative, from which the following details are taken. The Shrine Mary's Garden is circular, some 80 ft. in diameter, and is located to the North of the Basilica. It is reached by an entrance walk leading from a welcome kiosk at the Basilica informing of the Garden and inviting pilgrims to visit it. On the Prayer Terrace there are two stone benches before each of the four garden beds, on which visitors can rest and pray.
Visitors can also sit on the raised garden bed walls.
Or the garden beds may be viewed from an outer perimeter walk with additional stone benches and four prayer niches - accessible from the entry court, or by four radial paths from the Prayer Terrace. In view of the large size of the Garden, the color symbolism of Our Lady's Flowers has been selected as primary, and in particular that of white flowers symbolizing Mary's immaculate purity - especially suited to Mary's Garden of the Basilica of the U. S. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Here again the designers of the Garden draw on ancient tradition. These are found to be more suitable than plant name markers, which are more difficult to see, and subject to obscuring, displacement or loss over time. Narrative leaflets are, however, necessary sources of information supplementing the essentials permanently displayed at the Garden - for pilgrims who wish to retain photos and descriptions of Mary's Garden, and for reference by those inspired to plant smaller Mary Gardens at their homes, parishes and schools on return to their own communities.