Grief is hard.
Summer is finally here.
It’s hard to feel joyful when our hearts are aching for our loved ones.

However, if you have the energy and interest, consider lovingly creating a memorial garden.
What is a memorial garden?

It’s a place of beauty that you’ve created so that you can sit amongst nature, flowers, trees and perhaps a bench, and think about your loved one. Make it a loving, beautiful place to honour your loved one. This is one way to ‘work out’ your grief. If you have a grieving child, this would be a creative way for them to think about their loved one and make something to honour them. Ask the grieving child to plan it and select the components with you.

Here are some ideas to consider:

1. A Bench

Make sure you can sit in your garden and have some quiet time, reflect, remember and cry. A bench would be a lovely idea so you can sit alone or with someone. Perhaps you can invite someone special to sit on the bench and share memories of your loved one.

 

 

 

2. Stones

Why not find some beautiful polished stones or stones you’ve collected on holidays to scatter around your memory garden. They represent the permanence of your love for your loved ones who have died.  Perhaps you ask your grieving child to spell out your loved one’s name with small stones. In Jewish culture, mourners leave beautifully polished stones to leave on the gravestones as a sign they’ve been to visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Flowers

Flowers represent the short but beautiful lives of our loved ones. Choose annuals for something new each year and perennials for permanent favourites. You can google the meaning of flowers and choose some that resonate with you. Or, you can choose your loved one’s favourite flower or favourite colour for your flowers. 

4.  A Solar Light

Consider a solar light to light the memorial garden at night. Garden lights are beautiful and cast soft glows at night. It represents the love that endures through dark and hard times. Then, you’ll be able to use the memorial garden in the later hours of the day.

5. Bird Feeders

A bird feeder may extend the interest you have in spending time in your garden. It is a reminder that life continues and there’s hope for tomorrow, and brighter days ahead. Birds are beautiful (except magpies) and are fun to watch. Spending time in nature is good for our soul.

 

6.  Trees and shrubs.

Trees, such as spruce and evergreen trees would be a lovely addition to a memory garden because you could decorate it during the winter months and put lights on them, as well. Certain shrubs attract butterflies and bees, which are also beautiful and important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, the beautiful components of a memorial garden are simple. Having a beautiful place for you to sit as you remember your loved one is a lovely idea to create a focal point for your grief. Children have wonderful imaginations and would be so helpful in planning and constructing one.  Grieving is hard. Having somewhere beautiful to grieve may be helpful for adults and children alike.

(all images used are from Canva)