Kathy’s Korner | A Memorial Garden

Over the past ten years, our website developer has been creating a Memorial Garden to honor his son’s mother. This is the latest upgrade (so to speak) of his endeavor and we at Goffle Brook are honored to share this with all of you, hoping perhaps it will inspire you to create one of your own. Within these beds one can find peace, serenity, solace, compassion, love and understanding and most of all “a reason to go forth with life” and always remember.

You don’t have to be an avid gardener to create a peaceful, special area in your yard dedicated to the memory of a deceased family member or friend. A memorial garden is simply a space designed to be a beautiful and meaningful area that has been created as a tribute to a lost loved one. Even if you’re limited to an apartment or any small space or yard area, there are still options for creating a physical space within which you can honor those whom have meant so much. The act of creating and maintaining a memorial garden can be very therapeutic and allow you to deal with grief in a constructive way; often you have lessened your grief and replaced it with a smile and then you realize that your sadness has become your inspiration. Therein you find that your departed loved ones are now dwelling within you and are forever with you. Enjoy the stroll through the garden!

Last but not least. As I said before, you don’t have to be an avid gardener to create a peaceful, special area in your yard dedicated to the memory of a deceased family member or friend. Nor does it cost a lot of money. Many of the items utilized within my memorial garden came from neighbors, were obtained by trading some hostas i was dividing for some decor, by utilizing broken clay pots (for example the cover of the surge protectors is 1/2 a large clay pot placed sideways over the protector). All I did was paint it whimsically with “hi-voltage” and accenting it with a lego power supply sort of structure. Simple, easy, and free. The two white rabbits were ceramic animals my Mother had in the attic packed away. Driftwood anyone can collect while on a stroll by a creek or river. Same with the rocks. Divide your perennials and over the course of a few years you’ll have an array of them like my sedums, daylilys and hostas forming a backdrop along the pathways made from field stone. Incorporate some knick-knacks and what-nots that your loved one cherished into the scheme of things. Heavens I put some army men and indians i played with as a kid into the mix. Empty C02 gas cartridges from a pellet pistol now function as an ammunition supply for the army men’s cannon that ward of evil spirits and drama from the garden. Have a broken birdbath or feeder? Repurpose it. There’s always a way and a use for it. But most of all be patient. Every year with some dedication and a little insight, you to can watch your memorial garden transform into a wonderland of magic. And it does….. You just have to let your imagination run wild, design for the inner child in you, and get your hands dirty a tad bit. It’s fun.