Throughout history, trees have represented life and the fundamental elements of existence. They provide shelter, fruit, and fuel. We nurture trees and receive nourishment in return. From children’s stories like The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein to the parables of Jesus, trees remain a symbol of life and connection.
In this article, we look at five beautiful reasons to plant a memory tree in honor of your loved one.
1. Memory Trees Represent Hope
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Psalm 1:3 (ESV)
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
A palm tree in the desert or an old oak along an abandoned road instantly evokes strong emotions. We think of rest, security, and relief. Trees serve as landmarks, shelter, and sustenance for weary travelers. They offer nourishment — which is why they are often used in stories that involve physical or spiritual comfort. Trees represent hope.
Often, trees appear at moments of transformation. Many mythologies place trees at pivotal moments in the story. Sometimes, anthropomorphic trees speak. Other times, their tall trunks and long branches point heavenward. In most instances, the upward reach of tree branches reminds people of their journey to something higher.
Finally, trees recall the process of resurrection. A tiny seed, buried in the earth, bursts forth into a tall, strong trunk with waving branches. This symbolic victory over death appears throughout religious literature, including Christianity. In the Bible, almost every major figure has a tree linked to their story in some way—from Noah receiving the olive branch to Moses in front of the burning bush. Additionally, Jesus’ earthly existence symbolically interconnects with trees from his childhood to his death and ultimately, his resurrection.
2. Memorial Trees Help the Environment
I think I shall never see
From Trees by Joyce Kilmer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trees_(poem)
A Poem as lovely as a tree.
Trees benefit the natural world. They clean our air — absorbing harmful carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Wildlife makes their homes in trees and forests rely on tree root systems for nourishment. They also help clean water and give nutrients back into the soil.
The relationship of giving to and receiving from the earth can continue when you plant a memory tree. This living memorial will create a home for wildlife, clean the air, and add nutrients to the surrounding soil.
3. Trees Celebrate the Natural World
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life…
Proverbs 11:30 (ESV)
Planting trees to honor someone’s life has become such a meaningful gift and one that truly represents the Cycle of Life. As one life ends, something new grows from the loss. Planting trees lets you express your sympathy while also celebrating the natural world.
Season to season and year after year, the tree will endure and grow stronger. As it blossoms with life, your loved one’s memorial will celebrate the natural world.
4. Memory Trees Create a Personal Moment
There’s a very special garden
Author Unknown, Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/23714335525454905/
Where the trees of memory grow
Nurtured by the kindness
And concern that good friends show.
The roots are cherished memories
Of good times in the past
The branches tender promises
That souls endure and last.
Twice each year, we open our secluded, private garden to visitors so they may visit their loved one’s memorial. During this time, our guests walk through nature and enjoy the serene setting. When they visit a memory tree, they have an opportunity to partake in a personal moment of reflection.
Standing before a thriving memory tree, our guests can listen to the rustling of leaves and feel at peace with their beloved’s passing.
5. Memory Trees Become a Living Memorial
When we lose someone we love
Anonymous, Source: https://healingbrave.com/blogs/all/grief-quotes-love-never-dies
We must learn
Not to live without them,
But to live
With the love they left behind.
Planting a memory tree creates beautiful remembrance of a person’s life. Year after year, the tree will stand tall against the backdrop of the changing seasons. In the fall, orange and red leaves from the surrounding landscape will frame the tree. During the wintertime, squirrels may explore the dormant limbs. Throughout the spring, birds will nest among the budding branches as wildflowers grow on the nearby mountains. The sun will shine upon the rustling leaves throughout the summer, casting lovely shadows across the memorial stone at the tree’s base.
In the same way that your loved one’s legacy changed and grew throughout their time on this earth, their memory tree will illustrate the seasons of their life.
Plant a Memory Tree in the Blue Ridge Mountains
To commemorate a loved one’s life, we will plant a Memory Tree to serve as a living tribute that could stand for hundreds of years. The memory tree will be planted near our secluded Scattering Garden in Virginia’s scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
We will respectfully scatter the ashes during the planting process, and place an engraved, personalized memorial stone beneath their Memory Tree. A Memory Tree can also be planted without the ashes of a loved one. (Some families simply want a living memorial to stand for their loved one.)
You will be able to visit the tree when we open our grounds for Days of Celebration. We hold these twice a year: once in the spring, and again in the fall…when the site is at its most beautiful.
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about planting memory trees. Call us at 434-534-4007 or email us at info@restashured.com.
