Flawed Florals

Why Grief Flowers Don’t Work

Hearing the news of a death often triggers a similar thought for many - I need to order flowers for the service. It's simple, flowers are beautiful. For a moment. They arrive in tall sprays and delicate wreaths, tucked with ribbons and sympathy cards, a big display of care. They're sent with good intentions—love, support, an attempt to say what words can’t. But here’s the truth: they don’t work. You'll be faced with flawed florals.

Because they die.

And before they die, you have to deal with them. After the funeral ends and everyone drifts home, the surviving family/loved ones are left standing in front of three dozen arrangements that must now be loaded into their car, one by one, being careful not to spill water, drop petals, or make a mess. You’re grieving, exhausted, hollowed out. And now you’re also a florist, a mover, a reluctant recipient of fading beauty. You drive them home carefully, worrying about petals crushing or vases tipping. Then you have to find space for them all—on counters, windowsills, anywhere there's room. Or you could consider taking them to a nursing home or elsewhere that might accept them, but then you're faced with sympathetic glances, awkward conversations, and more headaches than it might be worth.

And then, over the next few days, they begin to wilt. The water turns cloudy. The smell changes. The petals shrivel. You watch them droop and collapse, as if grief needed another metaphor.

What we need in grief is ease, not work, not flawed florals. We need presence, not perishables. A hand to hold. A meal delivered. A walk in silence. A set of quotes delivered where you can process at your own pace. Something that doesn’t die before we’ve even caught our breath.

Flowers are kind. But they’re not always kind enough. If you're considering sending some, perhaps explore another option. You certainly wouldn't mean to add extra work, but the process is flawed. If you've received the flowers and understand the work that came with it, you're probably all too familiar with the grief that accompanied that moment. Your grief is not forgotten here.

Read About More Resources Here