Floral Regulations
Floral Regulations
These regulations are designed to preserve the beauty of our cemetery for everyone to enjoy. Flowers and grave decorations cannot be burdensome to our staff or encumber another grave out of respect for all. Our park staff will remove flowers &/or decorations when deemed wilted, faded, or unsightly, or do not conform to our regulations. Thank you for protecting the beauty of your cemetery.
Our policy allows fresh flowers year-round on the grounds of the cemetery. Artificial flowers are only permitted October 1 through April 1 EXCEPT in vase holders in the INDOOR Mausoleum ONLY. Fresh flowers are not permitted at any time in the INDOOR Mausoleum.
Any pots placed on the grave MUST be able to be moved with one hand during the mowing season and should be limited to one pot per grave. This allows for our maintenance staff to trim and mow graves in a timely manner. Any type of fence, rock, or other type of marker or grave border materials are not permitted at any time, as well as glass, statuary, toys, flower holders, wind chimes, solar lights, or other items on the marker or grave. Planting of flowers, trees or shrubs is also prohibited.
A handout of our floral regulations is available at our main office building during normal office hours or if you wish, one may be emailed to you upon your request.
Cemetery Graves
- Fresh-cut flowers may be placed in cemetery vases throughout the year.
- Live, potted plants are allowed only if they can be lifted with one hand, one pot per grave.
- Artificial flowers may be placed in cemetery vases from October 1st through April 1st.
- Christmas decorations will be removed within two weeks following the holiday.
- All other decorations for holidays, including Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Veteran’s Day,
- Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, etc. will be removed within 2 weeks following these holidays and based upon grass mowing and maintenance needs.
- Digging holes, planting flowers, shrubs, or trees on a burial space is not permitted at any time.
- The placing of flower pots, flower boxes, glass of any kind, statues, shells, toys, rocks, metal designs, wreaths, wind chimes, ornaments, chairs, benches, fences, vases, wooden items, food and beverage containers, paper products, mylar balloons, and other items upon the plot shall not be permitted and will be removed by our park personnel.
- Funeral flowers are usually removed one week after the burial.
Mausoleum Crypts and Niches
- Artificial flowers are the only type of arrangements allowed inside our INDOOR MAUSOLEUM. We do not allow fresh flowers because they attract flies and bugs.
- Fresh flowers may be used in all OUTDOOR MAUSOLEUMS and niches along with artificial flower arrangements.
- Flower arrangements should be uniform in size to the bud vase and must not cover neighboring crypts or niches. Do not put sand, gravel, etc. into the vase to hold the flowers. Serious injury can occur when these items fall. Styrofoam is suggested to hold flowers.
- Wire fasteners should not be used to attach arrangements to vases. The wire will rust and can stain the crypt and niche fronts.
- Do not use tape, stickers, or decals on crypt or niche fronts. They become unsightly and difficult to remove.
- Glass, ceramic, paper products, shells, toys, rocks, metal designs, wreaths, wind chimes, ornaments, chairs, benches, vases, wooden items, food and beverage containers, balloons, and other items are not permitted and will be removed by our park personnel.
Glass
Glass containers, bottles, jars, or vases are not allowed - they pose a danger to visitors should they be broken. The broken glass can become hidden in the grass and cause severe injury if stepped on or shot as a projectile by our maintenance equipment.
Mylar Balloons
Mylar balloons are not permitted in the cemetery, the reason for this is at night when it cools off, they deflate and fall to the ground, the mylar film from the balloon can transfer to the grave marker and cannot be removed. This can permanently damage the finish on the marker, especially bronze markers. Most often it's the adjacent markers at risk of being damaged and should this occur, we become liable for the replacement of that marker.
Deer
Whether or not you feel the presence of deer in the cemetery is calming and beautiful, they LOVE TO EAT flowers, especially roses. They will leave the stems intact but will cleanly bite off the buds. If this is what you have experienced, it is NOT due to our staff carelessly weed eating, the deer have visited your flowers. There are products sold at home improvement centers such as "Deer Off" and other commercially available products you can spray or apply to your flowers. They may or may not work and we do not endorse any particular product that is guaranteed to keep the deer away.
Missing or Damaged Flowers
As we enter spring this year, the deer are becoming very active in feasting on flowers and landscaping throughout the cemetery. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to deter them from the area.
The setting of New Tacoma Cemetery is quite unique and beautiful. Our natural surroundings are also home to many deer who often travel through our park. Deer love flowers, especially roses, and will strip clean the stems in minutes. Many think vandals have destroyed their flowers, some within hours of being placed at the grave. Unfortunately, the culprits are most often the deer. People like seeing the deer in such a natural state but don't realize the destruction to flowers they cause. One suggestion if you are having this problem is to purchase some "Critter Ridder" or "Deer Off". This is in pellet or spray form and is available from stores such as Lowe's, Ace, Home Depot, and others. Not a complete solution, but this has been shown to help keep deer away from flowers. Also, check with your florist on any certain type of flowers that deer may not be attracted to or are in their "preferred" diet.
