The actual plants for a memorial garden should ideally mean something. If roses were their passion, choose several favorites, or if possible, transplant some from their garden. Many gardeners have an enthusiasm for a particular category of flora. Bulbs, edibles, native plants, perennials, or trees are all thoughts.

If you want to plant a tree for someone who has died, you can donate money to an organisation who will plant a memorial tree on your behalf. Roses are wonderful garden memorials for loved ones, with a host of varieties including Loving Memory, At Peace and Never Forgotten specially named with loving sentiments in mind. Discover 13 beautiful tribute roses for some inspiration. Pretty climbing clematis Remembrance also looks wonderful when it comes into late summer bloom. Most memorial trees can be personalised to include a special message. This message can be displayed on a memorial plaque either on, or near to the tree. Create a sensory space by adding Lavender, scented herbs and climbers to walls or trellis. As well as attracting butterflies and bees, their sweet scents will help you to relax whenever you visit the garden.

Plants

A bird table or feeder is a practical ornamental feature, while plants will also draw hungry birds in search of insects to your remembrance garden. There are many memorial planting ideas, which sometimes combine plants with a bench, marker, or other commemorative item. What works for one person may not work for another, as this is a deeply personal space. Consider what it will look like through the seasons and make it accessible, or even visible through a window. A memorial garden can be created to honour the life of a beloved relative, friend, or even a treasured pet. It is a special place that will help you to remember your loved one in a quiet, safe space – a place to visit and revisit time and time again. Rosemary is traditionally the herb of remembrance and is a robust evergreen. It bursts into blue flowers in the spring, which complement those of the forget-me-not (pictured above). Forget-me-nots can be bought from many garden centres or sown as seeds between May and September to flower next spring. You should also consider where you choose to plant the memorial tree – if you plant on private land and the owner of the land sells this to someone else, there’s no guarantee that the new owner will allow you to visit.

Personalise a garden memorial bench or chair with an engraving or plaque bearing your loved one’s name, or perhaps an engraved memorial stone or garden plaque with a special sentiment. A pebble bed or bowl is another lovely remembrance garden idea. Invite visitors to bring their own pebble in tribute, adding to your memorial garden. Centre piece Given the right amount of sunshine, nutrients, TLC and water, most plants will thrive in containers, so don’t let space limit your imagination, when it comes to creating a remembrance garden. Personal touches A cornucopia of springtime bulbs, wildflowers, Forget-me-nots and Sweet Williams will breathe life and vibrancy into the garden, and return year after year. If you’d like to plant a tree for a loved one, you’ll need to decide which type of tree you’d like. Common species include: We are a nation of gardeners and many people would love to be placed to rest in the garden that they loved, nurtured and enjoyed. The main downside to simply burying the ashes in the garden is that if the house ever has to be sold you will have to find and dig the ashes up or leave them behind, this can be stressful for all involved. By keeping them inside an ornament in the garden not only do you get to put your loved one in the place that they loved, but if you do ever need to move home you can simply take them with you.

In their name

Inspired by your loved one, a memorial garden can simply feature a simple, single tree planted in their favourite outside spot. Or, it can be a larger area containing their favourite flowers, personal mementos and lasting tributes such as an engraved plaque, seat, sundial or water feature. For some, adding a tasteful garden cremation memorial provides a tasteful alternative to a traditional grave marker. It allows relatives and friends to commemorate their loved one with an individual and discreet memorial. The other benefit of a memorial garden ornament is that it is completely discreet. This will give you more time to decide what you want to do as your feelings may change over time. Until then these urns can keep the ashes safely at home without you having to explain your reasons to anyone, if someone admires the keepsake it is up to you whether you tell them or not. Watching and listening to the gentle flow of water encourages relaxation and promotes a calming effect. Which is why choosing a space near a stream or adding a pond or water feature to your memorial garden will create a tranquil, peaceful remembrance area. Water will also attract native wildlife, including birds and butterflies, which in turn will help to breathe life and beauty to the garden for years to come. In the summertime, sometimes the best time to sit and quietly reflect in a remembrance garden is at the end of the day. Lighting a candle for a loved one can be a meaningful comfort and also bring colour when the sun goes down. Consider outdoor candle holders with coloured glass, solar powered lanterns, or strings of solar-powered lights woven through branches or amid trailing plants and trellis. In their name