Mary, Mary, quite contrary
This is the version that we tend to know

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

This though below is the earliest that we know of it , published in 1745 in a nursery rhyme book.

Mistress Mary, Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells,
And so my garden grows.

The interpretations of its meaning include connotations to religion and past Queens. There is no consensus of course as it was written over 250 years ago as nothing is known of it’s origin other than it was in that book.
Taking it at face value , we could though concentrate on the question mark that follows how does your garden grow.
Photosynthesis was not known about until 30 years after the writing of this rhyme. Therefore anyone in 1745 would be wondering how plants and flowers and trees grow. We still of course wonder today about it even with the knowledge of photosynthesis.
But in 1745 it could have been that throwing that question at someone who is being quite contrary simply tells them to stop being contrary as they don’t , like anyone else have a clue about anything , especially like how the garden produces flowers etc To call someone contrary is to undermine the person who is thought as being contrary.

Home