Eco-friendly gifts for a grave site?

I like to leave my mom, who passed away last year, little gifts at her head stone. Since I leave things for Christmas, her birthday, and mothers day I realized how much stuff could accumulate. I have brought balloons in the past and flowers(commercial) but I don't think these things are very eco-friendly. Not to mention greeting cards I leave as well. I live in the north so I can't bring fresh flowers very often I don't think commercial are the best or truly genuine. I also thought about planting something but I really like to bring something new at these different holidays. Any unique eco-friendly suggestions would be great!!!!

Eco-friendly gifts for a grave site?
We also leave gifts at Dad's grave site several times a year; most of which are free of cost and eco friendly.





I really enjoy making things of paper mache which is a very eco friendly container ~ from paper mache, you can create shamrocks, vases, hearts, and all sorts of things suitable for graveside decorations. One good rain, and the container begins to compost :).





I also dry flowers, such as yarrow, lavender, and baby's breathe to use when fresh flowers aren't available from my yard.





During Christmas, we make wreaths from yew boughs, pine cones, and cinnamon sticks. For Halloween, I make a wreath of dried grape vines decorated with miniature pumpkins.





Have you ever woven with grass? I use a variety of grass we call "Mormon grass" to weave small baskets and make reed dolls ~ not unlike cornhusk dolls.





Even cockleburrs can be stuck together to create a cute little basket that can be filled with sprigs of evergreens and berries.





If you don't have a large yard with an assortment of plant life, you can certainly take a stroll through a public park and pick up twigs, acorns, dried leaves and other "found" items. Once you put your mind to it, you'll discover that all sorts of wonderful things can be crafted from nature.
Reply:For my fathers, I mulched it to keep the weeds off and planted flowers. It turn out really nice.
Reply:I am sorry to hear of your loss. You are a sweet son to leave little gifts!


We leave figurines...for example, around Easter...we put glass bunnies....Christmas, always a Poinsetta or a small Christmas tree. There are always some type of figurine or little statue that goes with the season/holiday...


We do not spend tons on the different momentos because people seem to think they can just take whatever they want from the cemetary...how sad, right?
Reply:How nice, I'm sure that your mother smiles at you all the while! I saw a grave in my local cemetery this summer and someone had erected a small very arbor and planted a clematis. It will grow every year and provide beautiful blooms for years and years to come. I'm not sure if cemeteries have rules about these things, though, so I'd check first.