How to Make a Cemetery Flower Bouquet

Cemetery flower bouquets--live cut or artificial--serve to honor those who have passed and show the love of the person placing the bouquet(s) for loved ones. People place cemetery flower bouquets on the ground, in vases or on tombstones or memorial markers or plaques. Making a cemetery flower bouquet isn't difficult. Once you decide on the type of bouquet you wish to place, including the statement you're trying to make with your bouquet, you can quickly make a cemetery flower bouquet using a few home tools.

Things You'll Need

• Art supplies
• Graphic design program (optional)
• Cut flowers
• Artificial flowers
• Bouquet accessories
• Shears or scissors
• Flat surface
• Wire cutters
• Vase
• Paper towels (optional)
• Cut flower watering block (optional)
• Ribbon or wire

Instructions

1. Contact the cemetery administrator to confirm the type of flowers (live cut or artificial) and arrangements allowed or preferred at the cemetery as cemetery rules vary greatly. Some cemeteries allow live cut flowers, while others as rule don't because they wither and detract from the overall appearance of the cemetery. Many cemeteries in colder regions throw away flowers, live cut or artificial, during the summer or at start of winter to make maintenance of the grounds easier (landscaping/grass mowing and snow removal)--especially in flat-marker cemeteries (cemeteries that don't allow upright headstones).

2. Visit the cemetery to see the various styles of bouquets displayed by others or go to a professional florist or florist's website to review cemetery flower bouquet arrangements. Choose a design that you like or make a design of your own using art supplies or a graphic design program.

3. Decide on the type of sentiment that you want the bouquet to express and the colors and types of flowers and accessories to use in your bouquet. For example, during Veteran's Day or Memorial Day, or if placing a bouquet on the grave of someone who served in the armed forces, you might select flowers that represent the colors in your national flag or decide to use a miniature flag to decorate a bouquet. In addition, certain flowers traditionally have very specific cultural meanings. Decide if you want the bouquet to make a culturally significant statement, a statement about the person you're honoring or a combination.

4. Select and cut or purchase your flowers. If you have a garden, cut your flowers the morning you plan to go to the cemetery. Cut the stems long with shears or scissors in a downward motion at an angle and gather the various flowers together on a work table or flat surface. If you purchase artificial flowers, cut the stems in the same way, but with wire cutters.

5. Arrange your flowers following the design you chose or created. If using live cut flowers, arrange in a vase and when finished wrap the bottom of the stems with wet paper towels so that the flower don't dry out or stick a professional cut flower watering block in the vase, moisten and then use the block to stabilize your bouquet as your arrange it in the vase. If using artificial flowers, follow your design before visiting the cemetery or arrange at the cemetery. If beforehand, secure the final design with a ribbon or wire.

Tips & Warnings

• Always recycle artificial flowers before cemetery groundskeeping staff removes and throws them away.

• Never make a live flower fresh cut bouquet until the day you plan to place the flowers in the cemetery as the flowers can wilt quickly after cutting.

References

• Green Lawn Cemetery