Today I'd like to talk about funeral flowers and what's happening there.  One of my biggest pet peeves in the floral industry is that for about the past 2 decades Funeral Directors have been publishing "in lieu of flowers" in the obituaries of our dearly departed loved ones.  This statement gives the impression that the family doesn't WANT flowers, which is just not true. For years there was a "flower car" which followed the hearse to the grave site from the Funeral Home.  That car was filled with gorgeous arrangements sent from loved ones and also those who could not personally be present for the services. These flowers were sent to show respect and love for the deceased. I always felt that the flowers helped to comfort the grieving family and provided a bright spot in what otherwise would be a rather dismal occasion. That entire scenario is only a memory. There are no more "flower cars". I think my age is showing...But don't you wonder WHY??
Skip forward to today - where Funeral Directors actually try to deter the bereaved families from ordering flowers from their local florist because they now control an interest in the floral industry. (check out their websites). These websites are provided to the Funeral Homes FREE from major Wire Services such as Teleflora and FTD, so that all orders are sent through them.  Flowers present a job that the FD's must handle. Therefore they want only to handle "their" flowers from "their" websites. Floral tributes have been cut to a minimum. Usually the family has a total of 3 pieces- chosen from the website collection. We have seen this happen in our own very small local community as well as those in the big cities. Unless you absolutely insist that you want your local florist to handle the flowers, you will be caught up in this self serving plot.
So what is left to do??? Sending flowers to the home is a great option.  Many people are sending plants, dish gardens, planters, and other floral tributes to the homes of those families who have suffered a loss. It allows the sender to choose when they want to send their memorial without the constraints of having to get the piece to the funeral home in time for the service.This is a good alternative and allows the grief stricken family to enjoy the flowers at a less emotional time. At Fuller's Floral we always incorporate fresh cut flowers in among the greenery of the plants. Many times we will add a tasteful bow or include an angel statue, depending on what the sender would like. This always seems to bring a smile to the face of those receiving the living plant in memory of their loved ones.
In conclusion I would like to note that sending flowers of any type is a wonderful way of saying that you cared for the deceased and they will be missed in your life. And to those who are publishing "in lieu of..." please consider my suggestion. It is just as easy to write an obituary stating that floral memorials and/or donations to their charity may be made in honor of the deceased party. Just those two words - and/or - will give people the choice to make this decision for themselves.