Floral Tributes that Live On
With many of us becoming more aware of the environmental impact of our choices, British grown seasonal plants and living arrangements have become a popular choice for all sorts of occasions, including funerals.
Funeral floral tributes offer huge opportunities to be personal and creative. With choices ranging from floral letter tributes to floral tributes for funerals inspired by favourite colours, sports teams or places.
Independent funeral directors Jez and Sara Fixter, of Full Circle Partners in Altrincham, helped a local family plan a living arrangement for their mother, specifically designed to be replanted after the funeral. Floral tributes can be such a meaningful funeral choices, one which truly reflects the person who has died.
The arrangement featured some of their mother’s favourite seasonal blooms, including snowdrops and primula, with trailing ivy and Japanese holly, all of which could be replanted directly into the soil. Tulips and foliage were included which could be recut and displayed in a vase.
They transplanted the elements into their own garden where they can flourish for many years to come and remind them of their mother and her love of plants.
“It can be so comforting to spend time in the garden looking at the plants and bulbs coming up year after year and feeling a continuing bond with the special and important person you are remembering,” explained Sara.
“The wellbeing benefits of gardening really come into their own at difficult times in our lives, such as after bereavement, and our experience has shown us that finding personal ways to stay connected to someone who has died can have an incredibly positive impact on the grief process.”
The arrangement, which was put together by Hale-based florist Bloom & Gorgeous, was created to be naturally environmentally friendly and used peat free soil and a trough that could be reused as a planter.
“The family felt that being able to replant plants and flowers from the arrangement in their garden would be lovely way to remember and honour her,” said Sara.
“A living arrangement as a floral tribute for a funeral is a very sustainable form of floral funeral tribute which tends to be fitting too, because people who love plants and gardening usually care deeply about the environment.”
The family included another thoughtful touch in the funeral service, displaying a piece of their mother’s embroidery work to recognise her love of snowdrops and her creativity.
“Being able to personalise a funeral creates an opportunity to bring meaning to the event and remember some of the special things about the person.
“Not everyone finds this helpful, of course, and we are always guided by those making the arrangements so that we can provide the information they need to create the kind of funeral they want.
“The important thing is that people know that they have options and that there is really very little that cannot be included, should they wish.”
For more information about Living Arrangements or Funeral Choices contact us.
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