Memory Gardens: Botanical Tributes to Celebrate our Loved Ones

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With carnations for Grandpa Jones … red flowers for Grandma Jones; they must be red … violets for Grandma Cline … And zinnias, definitely zinnias for my brother.

Traces of loved ones that have touched our souls usually fill our homes and our hearts. Physical items are more than just a book, a clock, a dish or a quilt. They are keys that open the floodgates of memories, keeping the spirits of loved ones close to us and alive in our hearts.

What can be nicer than expanding this sphere of memories outside the house and into the garden?

Do you want to know how to plan a memory garden? I’ll walk you through what you need to know to create your own memory garden memorial. Included is a list of plants for your garden and their symbolic meanings. A list of various memorial symbols gives different ways to add tributes. Basic plant information for all of the memory garden plants follows, including the common name, botanical name, average height, USDA Hardiness Zone, and sun and water requirements.

Happy Remembering!