History of Sending Flowers

• Sending sympathy flowers has been a tradition for centuries. In 1951, flower bits and pollen were discovered during an archaeological dig in Iraq. It was then determined that these burials took place around 62,000 B.C.
  
  

Significance of Color

• Virtually any flower can be incorporated into an arrangement. However, certain colors better represent a religious occasion. White represents a celebration of joy, green represents nature, and purple represents royalty.
  
  

Plants

• Sending a plant of some sort, in place of a sympathy flower arrangement, is becoming increasingly popular, as well. Both green and blooming varieties are equally appropriate. A small dish garden or terrarium is also an option.
  
  

Sending Flowers to the Home

• There is nothing wrong with sending flowers directly to a family member's home. You can do this before the memorial or a week or so after the death. Waiting a short period of time reminds the family that they are still in the sender's thoughts.
  
  

Appropriate Arrangements

• Choosing the appropriate arrangement is important. For example, you might choose a flower cross if the individual was religious, a basket of wildflowers if he or she loved to garden or a small vase of baby's breath and mini roses for a child.