If you’re the type of person who regularly visits a loved one at a local cemetery, and you like to keep flowers on the grave, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of returning to find your flower arrangements missing. Nice flower arrangements aren’t cheap, and it’s heartbreaking to see your loved one’s headstone unadorned.
Why Your Flowers are Gone
When you arrive and the grave site to see your flowers missing, wind is the naturally assumed culprit…especially if the cemetery lies in a naturally windy location. However, there are other possibilities as to why your flowers are gone.
Your flowers might have been removed by the cemetery’s groundskeepers. If the arrangement fell, or blew off the stone, the groundskeeper may have picked it up when they came to mow the area and disposed of it. It’s also possible that you placed the flowers in a area that they need to weed eat, or mow. There’s also a possibility that your arrangement and/or placement of it, violated cemetery rules and was removed.
Sadly, your flowers could also be gone due to the work of thieves or vandals. Across the country, there has been a rise in thefts of flowers and other decorations from cemeteries. (http://www.startribune.com/today-s-grave-robbers-are-going-for-the-flowers/19340249/) Bronze vases and other items that have recycling value are the main targets, but even flowers arrangements are being stolen from graves. Many cemeteries also fall prey to vandals who destroy grave decorations for no apparent reason.
It should also be noted that if your flower arrangements are made with real flowers, it could be deer or other animals eating them.
Available Options
The first step to keeping your flowers safe should always be to know and abide by your cemetery’s rules for flowers and decorations. This will eliminate the possibilities that it’s groundskeepers removing your flowers. Some cemeteries don’t have any specific regulations. If this is the case with yours, try to keep them out of areas where mowers run.
There are a lot of homemade contraptions you can use you “MacGyver” skills to create. We’ve seen lots of fishing line configurations, zip ties, and even duct tape. The downside to this method is it often ends up looking very unattractive, not working, and sometimes even damaging the grave marker.
If you prefer to have your flowers displayed in vases, there is a product out there called, “Stay in Vase Design” that will keep your flowers safe from the wind, but not some of the other culprits for missing flowers.
Headstone saddles are designed to clamp on the the top of the stone and hold your arrangement in place, but it really doesn’t take much wind to blow it away. The metal arms of the saddle aren’t strong enough to make that tight of a clamp hold.
The Best Way to Keep Cemetery Flowers from Blowing Away
The best way to prevent the loss of your flower arrangements is by securing them with a Headstone Flower Anchor. The flower anchor is designed to be used on saddle arrangements to secure them to the stone, but it could easily be used to secure a wreath, a cross, or other style of arrangements.
The anchor attached to the stone with a high-bonding tape designed to be used on masonry. It has a thin, aircraft grade wire loop, and then a clip on the other end. The clip is designed to clip on to the metal saddle, but with a little thought, and arrangement could be clipped to it, as well. Once attached to the stone, and clipped to the flowers, you have a tether that is secured to the grave marker.
This not only keeps your flowers from blowing away, but it also keeps them up off the ground, and therefore out of reach of mowers and weed whackers. The side benefit of the anchor is a thief or vandal can’t just grab your flower arrangement and take it off the stone.
When used properly, the anchor is hidden from view, but will only allow the arrangement to move a few inches. Most thieve and vandals won’t take the time to figure out why it’s not coming off the stone, and will simply move on to an easier target.
There’s nothing that can completely guarantee the safety and security of your cemetery flower arrangements, but the Headstone Flower Anchor is definitely the best option available. They only cost $9.99 plus $2.99 shipping, and quantity discounts are available. To learn more, or buy and anchor today, click here.
If you're hoping for some extra security, grab some floral tape and wire. You can use this along with your Styrofoam filler to secure the flowers. Use a foot and a half of floral wire to wrap around the bouquet three or four times, leaving two long ends hanging down. Use the wire to secure the bouquet to the Styrofoam.
A super quick way you should know how to secure artificial flowers in vase is to use wire. It can be wrapped around the stems of the flowers and then twisted to secure them in place.
This easy to use headstone flower anchor adheres to the top of the stone, and then clips to the bottom of the arrangement, keeping it tethered to the stone. Once attached, the flower arrangement sets back down on the stone completely hiding the anchor from view.
Ginger jars, votive holders, pitchers, vintage bottles, tea tins, a small basket or crate, a watering can, teacups, or fruit (like a pineapple or watermelon) are all creative containers to hold a floral arrangement.
If you're worried the plant could blow away, fasten the anchor stem to a small ball of chicken wire before planting; this will hold the fake plant in place in case of high winds.
The best way to prevent the loss of your flower arrangements is by securing them with a Headstone Flower Anchor. The flower anchor is designed to be used on saddle arrangements to secure them to the stone, but it could easily be used to secure a wreath, a cross, or other style of arrangements.
The Grave Saver™ is a more durable, and more cost-effective, grave marker border that not only keeps your loved-one's grave marker level, and prevents it from sinking, but also keeps grass and other overgrowth out of the way.
The best way to hang things without a wall anchor is by securing the item to a stud. This can be as simple as driving a screw straight into the drywall and then into the stud, or a piece of wood can be mounted to span multiple studs.
Simply peel away the 3M film from the bottom of the anchor, hold it down firmly onto the clean surface of the headstone, and clip the anchor onto the wire saddle of your flower arrangement.
This unique device will solve the problem. This easy to use headstone flower anchor adheres to the top of the stone, and then clips to the bottom of the arrangement, keeping it tethered to the stone. Once attached, the flower arrangement sets back down on the monument completely hiding the anchor from view.
Using a can of ordinary hairspray, you simply work your way around the rose covering the petals, stem and leaves with the liquid. The hairspray holds the petals firm and prevents them from falling off while hung upside down.
Hair spray will help preserve your flowers look fresh for longer. Hold the hair pray bottle 30cm away from your blossoms, and spray below the petals, as this will help the flowers remain in place. Let your flowers dry overnight and watch them strive.
Can I preserve fresh flowers with Mod Podge? Mod Podge is best for preserving dried flowers so that no moisture reaches them and they won't fall apart.
You can breathe new life into worn silk flowers with Mod Podge or school glue. Porcelain look flowers are beautiful when arranged in a vase, wreath or bouquet. This method requires little previous crafting experience to apply, so even first time crafters can enjoy using this unique technique.
Artificial flowers, on the other hand, often last up to two years with little fading. Some flowers even fade well, such as a bouquet of red roses that fade to become pink roses over the years. If you plan to place the flowers on top of the memorial, we recommend using artificial flowers.
A dried flower preserving spray works as a sealant to prevent the petals on dried flowers from rotting. These products let you preserve a significant bouquet or prolong the beauty of your favorite flowers. Several types of sealants are available, and each has its pros and cons.
If your artificial flowers are *very* lightweight (the fabric used is very sheer), I might consider purchasing something else. But for what I did, regular spray paint worked just fine. You could always do a test before you completely cover the flowers, just to make sure it's going to work.
Most sprays are sold with a saddle that is made of coat hanger-like wire that is bent to fit over the top of the stone and hold it in place. These saddles do a decent job of holding the flowers in place, but they can still be blown away if the wind gets strong.
If you want to keep those cheap styrofoam tombstones from blowing away, stick two bamboo skewers halfway into the base of them . They go about 10 inches into the soil and hold far better than the plastic “stakes” they come with.
We have seen people use Vaseline, baby oil, WD-40, and even car wax but that creates oil stains and can cause permanent damage the stone. The best thing you can do to keep your headstone clean and preserve the strength and integrity of the stone is to keep up on the maintenance.
Cenotaph - a grave where the body is not present; a memorial erected as over a grave, but at a place where the body has not been interred. A cenotaph may look exactly like any other grave in terms of marker and inscription.
They were designed to be a deterrent against body snatchers, otherwise known as resurrection men who targeted graveyards during the first half of the nineteenth century and stole fresh corpses from their graves, selling them to the local anatomy schools who dissected them in anatomy lectures.
Today, burial vaults can be made of many materials including metal and plastic, but they are more likely to be made out of concrete which works better at preventing both the casket and the grave from sinking into the soil once buried.
The acronym stands for “Fraternity, Charity & Loyalty” – the three guiding principles of the Grand Army of the Republic. Also known simply as GAR, the Grand Army of the Republic is a fraternal organization of veterans of the Union Army who served in the American Civil War.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. This is one of the most often-quoted verses in the Bible and would be a great choice to put on a headstone of a Christian.
Modern anchor designs that are extremely stable and able to easily grip on to surfaces are generally derived from three standard designs that have been used from the 10th century onwards. These are the – Fluked, Admiralty and Stockless anchor designs that are often still in use for small crafts and lightweight boats.
Wedge anchors are typically the strongest anchors, but not every application requires a heavy-duty anchor. Some will do just fine with a plastic wall anchor or a nail-in version.
The practice of leaving flowers at graves began thousands of years ago when the ancient Greeks would honor fallen warriors. They believed that if the flowers rooted into the ground and grew from the gravesite, it was a sign that the fallen had found peace.
A hand with the index finger pointing up typically indicates that the deceased's soul has risen up to heaven. For gravestones with hands, also note the cuff or sleeves. If the cuff is straight and plain, it usually represents a male.
“The star itself stands for Order of the Eastern Star — the eastern star that lead the three wise men to the manger to Christ and Mary. It's associated a lot with Mary, that's why the females have this as their symbol. It's upside down because it was pointing the way for the wisem*n — there's nothing bad about it.
The circle is an ancient symbol of eternity, often found on Christian graves together with a cross. The circle has no beginning or end and may also symbolise resurrection.
Using a styrofoam filler in the bottom of a vase is one of the most popular options to secure flowers and prevent them from blowing away. Similar to the way many fancy floral bouquets work, a styrofoam piece is molded to the exact shape of the bottom half of the vase.
Brick clips are an excellent tool for hanging floral arrangements, like larger foliage pieces and florals on a brick wall. They also provide an anchor point to suspend Oasis cages or attach greenery.
Some popular long-lasting flowers for graves are chrysanthemums, zinnias, geraniums, roses, poppies, carnations, lilacs, peonies, daffodils and tulips.
Command Strips. This is probably the most commonly used method of hanging up frames, canvases, and any other decor without leaving a trace on the wall. ...
Another option is to use silica gel, which absorbs moisture and can speed up the process. Once the flowers are dry, they can be attached to the shadow box with special glue or Tape.
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Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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