What do you leave at the cemetary?

[ItsJustMe]

Hi. I would like to leave a plant or some sort of floral arrangement at my great-aunt's grave. Since it's pretty cold here in central MA, most plants wouldn't last very long outdoors. Does anyone have any ideas? What do you leave at your loved ones graves? Thanks

 

[jipsy]

A nice silk arrangement usually. It lasts longer.

 

[mommytotwo]

Since it's the holidays, you could put an artifical Christmas tree and add on some cute small ornaments.

 

[aprilgail2]

At the cemetary we leave grave blankets....at my little godsons memorial tree in the park we go and decorate it with bows, ornaments and garland for Christmas.

 

[crazee4mickey]

At my grandparent's grave we leave a different arrangement in the vase for each season---Christmas of course poinsettias, spring--tulips, daffodils, summer--roses, hydrangeas, daisies(anything beautiful and colorful) and in the fall we gather wheat, leaves, cat tails, etc. My kids like to leave just small personal items like there favorite little car or a little bracelet they made, favorite rock---anything.
We get tons of snow so we can't really leave too much but we leave what we can

 

[pfishgirl]

You may want to CALL ahead to the cemetary... Our local cemetary wouldn't let you leave Anything artifical....

I am looking at Grave Blankets tomorrow for some relatives..

 

[Serena]

You may want to CALL ahead to the cemetary... Our local cemetary wouldn't let you leave Anything artifical....

I am looking at Grave Blankets tomorrow for some relatives..

It is a good idea to call first to find out what they allow.

 

[minnie56]

When I go to my Mum at this time of year..I leave Holly. I know it doesn't last long...but it's my way of sharing the season though she has gone. If I can't lift the vase that is turned upside down into the ground because of feezing...then I just lay it on her grave.

 

[4nana]

I would definitely call, as different cemetaries have certain requirements.
If they allow it, a holiday silk would look nice and last longer. I suggest you take whatever brings you comfort. We are very fortunate, as where my Dad and brother are laid to rest they each have a appx 6'x8' plot that we are allowed to plant flowers, a sm tree, ocassional balloons, bench, or whatever will fit in that area. We also have the solar lights by their headstone. My Mom likes to visit very often as she does plant seasonal flowers there. For Christmas our family will decorated the small tree we planted there, take 2 silk poinsettia plants and a Christmas wreath. The grands also like to leave their little homemade gifts too.

May I ask what 'grave blankets' are? Sorry, I'm not familiar with them in our area.

 

[tinatark]

We just left the solar crosses at dhs' and my familys' graves. We've also put a Christmas tree out, and some assorted things - based on their likes in life. They have vases we fill with seasonal silk flowers.

I'm not familiar with the grave blanket either - thinking is similar to a casket spray?

 

[MerryPoppins]

Grave blankest are greenery sort of woven into a chicken wire type base. They are evergreen.

 

[4cruisin]

We hang decorated wreaths on the headstone at my parent's and my MIL's. They last for most of the winter and usually look very nice.

 

[helenabear]

A few in my family leave grave blankets. I agree about calling first, and also about bringing what brings you comfort.

For me, I place a single long stemmed red rose on my mom's grave. It's what brings me comfort and the only thing I have placed on her grave in the 12 years since she's been gone.

 

[SleepyMom]

I have made most of the things we take out to put on the grave of our son... wreath's (not just Christmas ones), other holiday decorations (Valentine's, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, birthday) and I hang them from a wire 3 leg stand.

Many years ago we had his birthday piece stolen, so since then I don't leave much out there, I put somethng out and then take it when we leave. In December every year we take out a Christmas wreath and leave it for the month, so far that has not been taken, but so many people have them there that hopefully the chances of ours being stolen is slim.

 

[4nana]

Grave blankest are greenery sort of woven into a chicken wire type base. They are evergreen.

Thx MP, I've not seen them in our area and sounds very nice.

Orginally posted by Helenabear
For me, I place a single long stemmed red rose on my mom's grave. It's what brings me comfort and the only thing I have placed on her grave in the 12 years since she's been gone.

HB, So very touching and what a lovely thing to do for your Mom.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have made most of the things we take out to put on the grave of our son... wreath's (not just Christmas ones), other holiday decorations (Valentine's, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, birthday) and I hang them from a wire 3 leg stand.

Many years ago we had his birthday piece stolen, so since then I don't leave much out there, I put somethng out and then take it when we leave. In December every year we take out a Christmas wreath and leave it for the month, so far that has not been taken, but so many people have them there that hopefully the chances of ours being stolen is slim.

That is so sad.. what kind of person would steal an item you left at a grave? That is an all time low.

My son was 4 when grandfather died.. his first visit to the cemetery he bought a matchbox car and a quarter. He buried it by the headstone. He left him money incase he wanted to buy aything.

I dont get there as often as I should.. thanks for the reminded OP.. I want to bring something special this year and bring all of my children. Especially the baby since he is named after my grandfather. Most of the time I wont bring the kids because I always lose it while there and than I end up making the kids cry.

 

[Jenn]

This time of year, most farm stands selling Christmas trees also sell holiday arrangements. I just picked up a basket filled with greenery (like branches from a Christmas tree), pinecones, and sleigh bells. It has a red ribbon tied around it. This was for my FIL's graves, he passed away 2 years ago Saturday.

 

[believe]

We just put the Christmas Blanket on my Mom's grave yesterday. We all meet at the same time and bring ornaments to tie on the blanket. This also includes laminated pictures of all her grandchildren. We had to arrange for the cemetary to put a 'bed' in place for the blanket, they aren't allowed directly on the ground. Around here the blanket runs around $60.00, plus a deposit for the wood/wiring they used (my sister returns that after Christmas).

As for individuals stealing from graves, we had flowers stolen 2 February's ago. We all took red/pink flowers and formed a large heart on my Mother's grave. It was about $70.00 worth of flowers and all were stolen.

 

[4cruisin]

As for individuals stealing from graves, we had flowers stolen 2 February's ago. We all took red/pink flowers and formed a large heart on my Mother's grave. It was about $70.00 worth of flowers and all were stolen.

How can people be so callous? I think that is very low.
After my mom's funeral, I went back to the cemetary and picked out 2 vases worth of flowers. I arranged them in vases and brought them to the nursing home where 2 different women had become close with her. They could not attend the services but I wanted them to know that they were with us in spirit and how much we appreciated their friendship. However, I took them from my mom's grave...not some strangers. That's really awful.

 

[dhcoffey]

Apparently stealing from graves happens more often than we think. I had the florist place a beautiful silk plant at my mom and dad's graves and we placed a wind chime in it that said mom, I love you and my dad's flag were in the arrangement because the ground is cement, won't go in the ground. Came back couple of weeks later, all was gone. I'm most upset about the flag and the wind chimes but people are really scummy when they steal like that.