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Written by Mitch Tapner.
15 minute read
The death of someone you love and the sense of loss that this creates is something that can be hard to move past. To some, exploring memorial garden ideas is a path forward because it gives them something to focus their energy on. Being able to create something that is lasting, enduring, and heartfelt could help you to mark the life of your loved one in a way that you see fit.
We completely understand that dealing with grief is a complex, personal process, and we will all navigate it in our own way. As providers of direct cremation services, we have the honour of talking to people who are walking their healing paths every single day. We hope that by sharing some of the inspirational memorial garden ideas we have heard about over the years, we can show you that there is always a way forward in life.
All the various funeral and memorial ideas that you will come across are designed to remember those we love and to help those left behind to heal. In our experience, most people see memorial gardens as safe spaces for reflection, remembrance, and emotional healing that will be there for many years to come.
By connecting with nature and offering a profound sense of tranquillity combined with a spiritual connection, they can help many people from different walks of life. If you feel that what you are considering creating may help you on one of these levels, you may find that pursuing it as a mindful exercise could really help.
There are no shortage of DIY memorial garden ideas when you know where to look, but you may find the amount of choice a little overwhelming. If this is how you feel, it could help to break things down into a series of simple choices so that you can start making progress at a pace you feel comfortable with.
Selecting a peaceful backyard or shared space in a space or location that means something to you all would be the ideal approach to take, provided it is practical. You want to be able to have enough room to express yourself creatively and to enjoy the garden, but not so much that maintaining it and tending to it becomes a full-time job.
From speaking to other families, we gather that the three most important things to consider are sunlight, access, and privacy. By making sure that you can sit in the warm glow of the sunshine without feeling like you are being watched or overlooked, you can set the tone for a truly tranquil space.
Some approach memorial gardens as one of the many celebration of life ideas out there, while others think of them more as a standalone labour of love. Choosing what you wish to include may be one of the most enjoyable parts, as it gives you the freedom to start expressing yourself:
Sketching out your plan to scale could help you to strike the right balance between space and features, all so you can feel at one with the garden from the first time you step into it.
You may also find it helps to think about our various remembrance garden ideas through the lens of different types of loss. For example, end-of-life celebration ideas may be right for some, but others may prefer something more sombre and understated. It’s about thinking and reflecting on the situation so that you can arrive at something that feels right to you and the rest of the immediate family.
Considering features that reflect wisdom, family heritage, and nurturing roles could really help set the tone here. Enduring symbolism is one way to convey wisdom and nurturing, with plants like oak trees and heritage roses being popular choices in this regard.
A gentle, inviting, and slightly whimsical approach may be best here given the sensitivity of the death. Parents and other relatives sometimes derive great comfort from uplifting features such as angel statues, toys, and pastel flowers that add some colour and vitality to the space. For these types of gardens in particular, a slow, sensitive, and considerate approach will always be best.
If you feel you want to mark the death of a pet, you may find some of our ideas for DIY funeral flowers helpful. You could then combine some of these arrangements and combinations with features such as miniature statues, name stones, and paw print markers. Trying to create a calm and restful place that welcomes you every time you visit could really help with your inner healing.
Just as giving memorial gifts can require a great deal of thought regarding meaning and symbolism, so too does the choice of plants for the memorial garden. Having a guide you can refer back to could really help with this part of your planning and designing.
Many people find that plants like forget-me-nots and roses strike the right tone; others prefer the presence and calming nature of trees. All of these common choices symbolise strength and rebirth in their own way, allowing the garden to feel like a statement about how the person you love is still with you in some way.
You may also find that seasonal blooms can help maintain year-round beauty by giving your garden bursts of colour at particular times. If you combine these infusions with a selection of low-maintenance, native species, you will be able to add some real longevity to your green space.
We also have a guide on funeral flower ideas, which may help you choose meaningful blooms for your space.
Symbolism has a big part to play in many types of memorial gardens, especially in those spaces when you are trying to create a deeply personal experience. Here are some timeless additions that you may wish to consider including:
Common symbols such as butterflies, doves, and angels are also used in many cases because of the way they add life and vitality to the space. Figuring out how to do so in a way that feels uplifting and appropriate, but without going so far as to unwittingly dismiss the feelings of your fellow mourners could be the way to go here.
If you are considering interment of ashes in a way that feels personal and authentic, you may find that a DIY approach to your memorial garden is best. Simple touches and a little bit of work on the ground is all it takes, and you may find that it feels like a welcome distraction at an understandably difficult time. Here are a few additions you could consider making yourself:
Creating a sense of balance is what it’s all about here, especially if you want to shape the calm, restful, and reflective space that allows you to sit with your loved one for many years to come. Get the balance right from your perspective and you’ll be able to take it all in while feeling comfortable and secure in your new green safe space.
There are so many ways to honour a loved one with engraved stones, plaques, or plants that it may feel hard to know where to start. If you want the space to be a personal tribute to the person who has died, designing it around a favourite hobby, colour, or memory could be something you wish to consider.
The difficult part could be feeling comfortable with your choices given that you may not know what the rest of the family thinks of them. For this reason, perhaps you could encourage family involvement for a shared healing process? The more you can come together and share ideas, the more you may find that you are able to open up to one another and heal together.
Creating a green space that only requires basic gardening for its upkeep is something that could really help to lighten the load at a time when you may have many other demands on your time. Knowing that it is quick and easy to stay on top of everything could help you find your new garden far less overwhelming if you have a point on your healing journey where you need to slow down. Knowing that it will only ever require a few minutes of TLC here and there could help you to fall in love with your space in a way that allows you to get the most out of it.
When celebrating the life of a loved one, memorial garden ideas are a beautiful way to mark the impact someone has made on all those who knew you. While you may not feel ready to create such a space right now, knowing that it is an option for a later date is something that you may get a great sense of comfort from. We’re not trying to push or nudge you here, only letting you know that there are other ways you can move forward when you feel ready to.
If you want help with other practical considerations, we are always here. We can help you to compare funeral plans as well as talk you through how our prepaid funeral plans* work if you would derive peace of mind from putting your own affairs in order. There is no pressure or any rush from our side, we simply want you to know that we are always here when you need us.
We hope that you have found something to anchor yourself to in this guide and that you can find a path forward that you feel comfortable with. Knowing that you can find ways to heal and change the way you feel may help you to gradually achieve the sense of balance you sense has been missing from your life.
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This is very much a personal choice, and one that gives you the freedom you need to express yourself in a way that you feel comfortable with. Starting with the location and the size may be the best approach as it gives you a foundation on which you can then build. Making sure that there is plenty of sunlight and that you don’t feel overlooked or watched in your new space is also important. From there, you can start to think about the purpose and intention of your garden, and pick features and plants accordingly.
Benches, paths, and a memorial or commemorative plaque are often chosen because of the timeless way they invite you to come and enjoy your space. Giving a little thought to how you want to strike the right balance here is really important, especially when you consider that you want to be able to set the tone for many years of mindful, thoughtful reflection.
Timeless choices such as oaks and roses are often seen in these types of spaces. The familiarity and tradition of plants like this is something that many of us find we derive a great deal of comfort from. Exactly what you want to hear when you’re looking to set the tone for a soothing, restful space that allows you to sit and reflect about what the person who died means to you.
Yes, a compact and private memorial garden is not only practical, but also something that many of us find we quickly build a deep sense of connection with. Depending on what you want to achieve, a small memorial garden may result in less work, greater privacy, and significantly less cost. This could be a natural fit at a time when you find that you are having to account for a wide array of unforeseen things.
Yes, every religion has symbols and small monuments that may help enrich a green memorial space, and the manner in which it is done is very much a matter of personal choice. Finding a way to balance the love you have for your loved one with an expression of their belief system is something that could really help you to strike the right balance here. There is no right or wrong choice, only what feels right to you and the immediate family here and now.
Using the first name of the person who has died and writing your tribute as if you were speaking directly to them is a timeless approach to personalisation. Many people find that it helps to create the foundations and core layout of the garden before then switching to personal elements. Doing things this way around may help you to see and feel what is right because it will allow you to stand in the space and take it all in. Precisely what you want when it’s time to set the tone for a calm, peaceful, and welcoming space that is sure to provide you with a sanctuary for many years to come.
Religious symbols such as crosses and angels are often used in memorial gardens because of the timeless way they allow everyone to sit and reflect on the life of their loved one. Others look to cultural references such as sports teams and characters from movies if they want something more contemporary and personal. Finding a choice that feels like it speaks directly to the person who has died and is what they would have wanted is the key here. Giving yourself time and space, as well as being kind to yourself, is what will make the difference when you want to bring all of the various elements of your project together.