Floral Basics

Because your funeral director and your monument builder usually focus on their particular tasks, it falls to the florist and the  cemetery office to explain proper decorating procedures.

            Be sure to have water on hand. In the North many shops will supply free water along with the flowers they sell.  Because cold climate cemeteries will not supply water from November through April. Look for signs at the administration office or ask what their water schedule is. Eyeball water taps in the section where you are visiting.  Have a backup in the trunk.

Expect to handle some trash. Taking flowers from the shop without a wrap is asking for permanent green stains on your clothing. Discard wrappers properly. Which means A) Remove paper when you leave. B) Fold or crumble the wrap and place alongside grave for the maintenance crew. C) Locate trash bins.

DO NOT place wrapper in the vase. Paper will form bacteria, which will kill the flowers.

Know the rules and regulations. Some cemeteries allow only fresh cut flowers, some allow them seasonally. Do not ignore these rules.  They exist to safeguard you and cemetery workers - stepping on a metal florist pick is cause to visit a hospital. Illegally placed flowers will be discarded earlier than you would like.      Cemeteries that employ flat markers - bronze or granite - usually pride themselves for their garden look. They will restrict decorations to one floral bouquet and very often offer you a permanent vase placed according to their design at the site.

            Cemeteries with headstones will accommodate areas in front and on the sides of the site for placement of decorations. The common rule is 18 inches forward of the stone and half the distance between your loved one’s stone and its neighbor. The 18 inches can be squared or half circle. Do not clutter; flowers need to breathe. And unsightliness is asking for a quick removal of all decorations. I’ll present you with decorating ideas later on.

            Artificial Flowers are always your best choice. They stand up to all environments and most cemeteries will not disturb them until they become unsightly – which is a long time. The meaning of an artificial rose is exactly the same as a fresh one. A rose is a rose is a rose.

Cemeteries that employ flat markers will restrict decorations to one floral

bouquet and offer you a permanent vase.

It is best to place a bouquet to the right or left of center so as not to hide names.

Placing flowers up against a granite stone will not stain the granite or damage the flowers.

What not to do.  Especially with children, some times too many visitors bring too many gifts. If in this situation, leave the fresh flowers and store the artificial until your next visit.

Saddles are common in most rural cemeteries, but you’ll also find them in major cemeteries as well. They sit atop stone monuments. They are made of durable material and can last for years.

Clever decorating around a cleverly designed memorial.

Larger cemeteries will not permit you to plant or decorate so far from the front

of the stone. Tractors and human traffic prohibit a liberal use of ground space.

Carry clippers. Doing so is just good advice.  You never know when you need them. If you want a clipping from a plant that surprises your path, wiggling off battery terminals, cutting away wrapping from Home Depot, and, of course, clipping down those bouquets from the flower shop. Keep a pair in the trunk.

Necessity is the mother of invention. One of the author’s smart inventions. This single flower holder is designed as not to damage stone yet present the flower properly on walls in public mausoleums. To order them, see appendix B.

TYPICAL REGULATION LAYOUT

Looking down from above the site.

A) Area between monuments. Often you will find small shrubs growing here. Often a cemetery will prohibit any but the smallest of  shrubs.  Think miniature Azaleas, dwarf Junipers. Best to reserve this area for items you want to share with other visitors like cone vases, hooks, stakes and tools you won’t mind loosing.

B) Framing area. Reserve this area for tall pieces like bouquets with high standing Gladioli and palm crosses and civil emblem stakes and flags.

C) Inner circle area.  Most cemeteries will allow at least 18 inches forward of the base for planting and decorating. When planting, reserve this area for mid-size plants such as Silvia, Daffodil, Geraniums and Tulips. When not planting place artificial arrangements within this area.

D) Outer ring area. Employ this area for border flowers such as Alyssum and miniature Begonias.

Permanent Vase area. Not all cemeteries will permit permanent metal vases. Especially if you cement it in place.  Because any metal or rock-like substance can harm visitors and employees if the vase becomes dislodged - as when the grave is opened for more burials. However, they are common, and it is in this area where you would a metal vase or place a cone of water to display fresh cut flowers. Remember never to allow the cone to stand with water and no flowers.  It will breed mosquitoes.