The healing force of nature can help release feelings of grief by creating a garden of memory as a living tribute to your lost loved one. Many people seek refuge in gardening in times of sorrow. For some, this simple act can bring a sense of balance in a chaotic world filled with stressful times. Gardening connects us directly with the cycle of life and allows us the opportunity to develop a memorial garden that is unique in style and devoted to paying tribute to a life that brought joy, talent, and fond memories. As the plants need loving care as they grow and mature, it gives the person caring for the garden time to contemplate on the life of their loved one. The memorial garden will also experience vigorous periods of growth and bloom, punctuated by quiet periods of resting and renewing-symbolizing the path that we all take.

Memorial gardens are designed be a place of reflection and peace, but also as a place to experience joy and pleasure that was experienced in the time and relationships that one had with the departed. The garden of memory can reflect your healing and the beauty of your relationship with your loved one as it matures and changes through the seasons.

If you're wondering how to create a memorial garden, there is no 'right' way to do it-it can be tiny or large, a quite place to reflect or a grand expanse, even a single plant kept indoors or a garden of memorial stones and plants that fill a yard. However, you choose to memorialize your loved one, having a place to reflect on the loved one's life can be healing and restorative.

The following are a variety of ideas that make a garden memorial something beautiful and honoring for your loved one.

Dedicating a space in your yard or on your patio to plant a perennial garden allows you to memorialize this special person through the loving language of flowers and plants and welcome the essence of life back into your world. In addition, setting up a birdbath, birdhouse, or feeder and welcoming butterflies with colorful blooms are further invitations to life by sharing yourself and giving back to nature.

Native trees, shrubs, and flowers can also be more easily trained and pruned. Because native varieties require less effort to grow and maintain, it is ideal for people who don't want to spend lengthy amounts of time gardening. Furthermore, these options are magnificent for designing a larger memorial that may include a path with a memorial garden bench and various spots set for reflection, symbolizing the individual's life journey, and represent a span of time.

Sometimes planting a tree in your loved ones memory can give the family a place to return to honor the loved one. Tree plantings can be marked with a tree dedication stone personalized with artwork and the departed's name and dates.

You don't have to have a large space to create a living memorial. For those without the room or the ability to create an elaborate, in-ground garden, a patio or indoor pot can be planted instead. A simple potted planting can be just as meaningful as more complex garden. This can be created easily by bending a wire coat hanger into the shape of a heart and securing it in potting soil. Then, plant a climbing vine that you can train to grow up the wire. Two plants are easy to train into a topiary form include Rosemary which symbolizes remembrance and English Ivy which represents friendship.

Memorial stepping stones, memorial garden plaques, as well as a statuary or garden memorial sculpture are other ideal ways to memorialize your loved one if you are limited in space because these items can represent your loved ones' personality. Garden stones and garden benches can be used indoors or out, and are all loving touches in your sacred space.

Regardless of the memorial garden that you choose best represents your passed loved one, memorials can be used to heal, restore, and remember the time and life that your loved one spent on Earth.