Flowers and Decorations

Decorations Allowed Year Round

  • Photos and notes are allowed year round, and we recommend placing them in plastic bags to protect them from the elements. Be sure to keep a backup copy of the photo for yourself, in case it gets lost or damaged.
  • Natural Flowers and floral arrangements may be placed year round. They must either be placed in non-breakable containers, or placed directly on a headstone. Flowers will be removed when they become dilapidated or they hinder the care of the cemetery.
  • Coins and small stones are also acceptable.

Decorations Allowed During Specific Times of the Year

  • Artificial floral arrangements and wreaths may be placed during the Non-Mowing season (November 1st- April 15th) and for the 10 days on either side of Memorial Day. We recommend picking up your decorations by April 1st and the Monday following Memorial Day.
  • American Flags may be placed for any holiday traditionally associated with the Flag (Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day).

Cemetery staff are not responsible for any item that is left at the grave.

Decorations Prohibited

Any prohibited object will be removed at staff discretion, and neither held nor stored.

Prohibited Decorations include: trellises, baskets, boxes, shells, toys, solar lights, crockery, glassware, flower pots or planters, pottery, urns, pinwheels, balloons, metal cases, figurines, small objects, grave blankets, statues, Shepherd’s hooks, breakable objects, bird feeders, beverage containers, decorations “on a stick,” and anything made of wood, plastic or Styrofoam.

Why all the Rules?

We are the stewards of the cemeteries. That stewardship means that we are not only responsible for the care and appearance of the grounds, but also maintaining a safe environment for visitors, families, and staff. Mementos and figurines are placed on graves to honor a loved one, but they can cause damage to landscaping equipment and injuries as well. We understand that misunderstandings about permitted decorations can cause stress and other emotions. Our goal in clarifying these rules is to prevent such misunderstandings.