The Gardens of the Dead are the focus of Chalakanesia's institutionalized ancestor-worship
The Gardeners are the priests of Chalakanesia, the functionaries who supervise the maintenance of the mirarilusistans, the Gardens of the Dead which are the focus of Chalakanesia's institutionalized ancestor-worship. The main Gardens of the Dead are on the island of Zachalacharo, but smaller mirarilusistans are to be found throughout Chalakanesia, as every household maintains its own garden-in-miniature.
'Your grandfather,' said Yulius, still in his cancerpronouncing mode of absolute heaviness, 'was not a Gardener. He preached his own religion. He preached of the Garden of the Flesh. Need I spell out the rest?' [WoH Ch2] OOL,WoH,EoH