My beautiful 3 yr old grandson drowned in a pool in our backyard we ripped out the pool and would like to make a memorial flower garden where the pool once stood, but I don't know how please help

I'm so sorry for your loss. Could you please post a picture and tell us what part of the county you live in?

What a sad experience for you and your family. Please accept my condolences on this tragic loss.

There are many ways to create a memorial garden, depending on how much space you have, your soil conditions, whether you want perennials or annuals, how much time you have to spend on upkeep and maintenance, etc.

Perhaps you could answer some questions so appropriate suggestions can be made.

How much space do you have and how large do you want the memorial to be? As Mosternaz asks, in what area do you live? This would influence what plants you could use.

Are any of your family gardeners? How much time will you have to spend on maintaining the garden? Do you want to add any statuary? Do you have a particular style in mind, such as an English cottage garden, a more formal garden, or simply a pleasant arrangement?

During Medieval, Shakespearean and Victorian times, certain flowers were associated with certain sentiments, such as remembrances, love, and more. You could plant a garden with flowers that have similar meanings for your family.

Here are a few sites which list meanings associated with certain flowers:

http://www.flowersonly.com/cgi...per?file=flomean.htm

http://www.flower-choice.com/flowermeanings.asp

http://www.familymanagement.co...flower_meanings.html

http://www.britinfo.net/florists/flowers-meanings.htm

And some with meanings of various herbs:

http://www.celticattic.com/tips_hints/health/herb.htm

http://www.herbgardeningguru.com/symbolism-herbs.html

http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html (good list of flowers and herbs)

You could pick a selection of flowers and herbs that express family, love, remembrance or similar values and create a garden around them.

Another option if you want to take design a step further is to make your own stepping stones with inscriptions and/or designs made from leaves, ferns, and perhaps even an outline of a favorite toy.

If this last option appeals to you, I'll get some sites for you, as there are good sites with instructions how to make such stones.

I live in the midwest (Illinois), the area to work with is 24' around, yes I want statues, I want to use annuals, I do not want to have a lot of maintenance, thought about putting a small flowering tree in center and working out from there

perhaps a memorial fountain in the center? high enough on a base so it's kidproof?

I thought about putting in a flowering tree, like a magnolia, or even a lilac in the center. I really like the stepping stone idea. I don't know about a fountain, but thought about a birdbath.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quarry77,

Quarry,

Really sorry for you and your family's loss...

Since you want something to remember your g-son, I would plant a nice tree that would grow well in your area. this is something that will change with the seasons and come back every yr and continue to grow, just like you wanted your grandson to do. Then whatever were his favorite colors, plant some perennials around the base to match his colors...you can easily add as you wish, while the tree continues to grow each yr...low maintanace, yet both short and long term remembrance.

God Bless him,
tstex