Garden

[cater]

My sister and I go to the cemetery all the time to visit out family and friends graves. When I was a young child my Mom and Dad always took us to were our grandparents were buried. Now since so many of our family and friends are gone we get silk flowers and make up different arrangements and take them to all the different graves. We do this for every holiday including Valentines day and even Halloween. One time at Christmas we made these what are called grave blankets ( all made out of pine branches and decorated) there was so much snow we took a shovel and moved the snow so that we could lay the pine blanket down nicely.

[bells4me]

I visit two cemeteries, one in Riverside, Ca where they allow no artificial flowers at all. The other is the small town where I live. This one allows just about anything. People cement benches down, small arbors, plant trees, shrubs, roses, statues & plenty of artificial flowers. Some look like they have been there for years. I only take fresh cut flowers when I visit gravesites.

[ennui1]

cater, I like the idea of a "blanket." I bet those are pretty. Right now, I just wish the cemetery would replace the sod; it doesn't appear to be thriving.

Snowpuppy, thanks for the suggestion on "find a grave." I think I've seen that for celebrities.

I'll have to check about the faux flowers -- since I haven't seen any, I suspect the cemetery doesn't allow them.

grandma r, thanks for the suggestions about cut flowers. I can just grab some roses from the garden on the day I get the urge to swing by.

[racerrn]

Is there a place to put a bouquet of silk flowers? That way they will last and they hold up well in the weather. I put silk flowers on my parents grave.

[Big Sister]

If you bring fresh flowers, is there a vase in place on the grave? If so, fresh flowers in water should last about one week. The cemetery will tell you what is the best day to leave the flowers. At our local cemetery the flowers are removed on the day they cut the grass in that section.

[Funloving]

On 4/18/2014 chessylady said: My Mother did not like to visit graves. Neither do I. I can remember her without visiting her grave and without feeling guilty.

My Mom did visit graves. Now that she's gone, as is my entire birth family, I feel like it's only symbolic. Their soul is so far from the grave. That's no reason to neglect it, so my aunt goes to make sure it's well kept.

I have no guilt for feeling so strongly there's nothing about her there except a marker- so no need to visit.

[paShar]

My mom's headstone has one of those vases that you pull up from inside. My sister and I put a silk flower arrangement in the vase every season along with some trinket. This spring she put a solar-powered hummingbird in with the flowers. At Christmas time, I take an artificial wreath on a metal tripod and put it in the ground behind the headstone - since it's winter, the cemetery doesn't mind this.

[jjeanne]

I agree with others. I don't like faux flowers, but it is the better choice. I go to Micahels when they have sales, and buy some greenery and flowers, for the different seasons, and they look good.

[violann]

My Irish grandma had lost her first son when he was seven, and "visiting" him was really made a sort of fun activity when I was a kid, and I'm sure those early experiences. Most of my mother's family is there. The "rules" of the cemetery are posted in strategic places and no exceptions are made. We just get used to seeing displays come and go. Philosophically and spiritually, I also believe that a released soul goes where he or she needs to be, and does not dwell in its vacated remains.

[GCR18]

As kids, my father brought us to the cemetery to visit the family plot. We are comfortable going. People plant small shrubs and flowers. Can you plant something? If not, I think I'd go with a fresh cut flower.