Memorial for Partner

[lyssie29]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for a nice memorial for someone when you don't have a garden? I was thinking of maybe a small planted tree for outside the front door but I can't find one that doesn't grow too big.

I like dedicated park benches. They're always appreciated, and when I sit on one I try and imagine the person it's dedicated to.

If it doesn't need to be at home you can plant trees in memory - for example through The Woodland Trust.

I have a rose bush in my partners name, there are lots of web sites that do it. I buried some of his ashes, some special little bits, jewellery, a couple of coins from recent travels that turned up in random places in the 6 weeks since his passing, his half of a key ring we had, a photo of us both and his birthday card in a planter and planted the bush on top. It's still going strong 3 years later and it brings me great joy with every bloom.

It's a very special rose bush, I shall add a photo!

The one question I ask myself is: "What would they do if they were here?", then go through a list of things they might have liked to do.

I lost my dad a couple of weeks ago and I know that he wanted cremated and his ashes (or at least some of them) scattered over Belfast Lough, around the Holywood area, as he was born there. He was a marine engineer with the merchant navy, and was also a keen sailor as well as a keen gardener, so it seemed fitting to his memory to scatter some of his ashes in the sea as well as around the cooking apple tree that is in their garden. He loved to see me climb that tree, collecting bags of apples and then go home and make apple pies for everyone with my own pastry recipe and spices. In dad's memory, I'll continue that tradition.