Sending Flowers

“If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.”  -Claudia Adrienne Grandi
 
Think about the last time you went to a funeral or memorial service. The first thing you may have noticed when you walked through the doors of the church or parlor was the abundance of floral arrangements. Lilies, roses, orchids, and gladiolus are only a few of the most popular, and most fragrant, blooms to be sent in memory of the dearly departed. You’ll find these beautiful, colorful blossoms adorning every table, corner and boutonniere right up to the casket, urn or memory table.
 
Sending flowers is such a popular practice even in modern funeral services, that funeral homes still have a special flower room just for receiving baskets and sprays. Often, when a death has just occurred, the undertaker who picks up the body will also leave a rose or carnation in the bed or with the next of kin as a token of respect.
 
Why do we send flowers to funerals or the homes of a family or friend who has just lost a loved one? It may seem like a no-brainer…flowers are, after all, an age-old way to show that you are thinking of someone. They are bright and beautiful, and serve to remind us that life goes on even when we are surrounded by darkness and grief. They smell lovely, giving us a little lift in our spirits just when we need it the most.
 
While it’s true that in times gone by fragrant blooms were used for more practical reasons, mainly to cover up the stench of decomposition, today that is simply not the case. Flowers are not needed for this purpose anymore, especially in cases of embalming, cremation, or even just refrigeration. These days they serve as symbols of reverence and comfort for the family.
 
Of course, flowers are not only for funerals! They can be offered as a romantic gesture, as a birthday gift, in celebration of a birth, or even as a sign of friendship. What is your favorite flower? Let us know in a comment below!
 
-Aubrey