For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, June 21 marks the summer solstice — the longest day and shortest night of the year. It's a natural moment to pause, reflect, and welcome a new season. At Reflection Park, we're doing just that: reflecting on all that’s happened since the last solstice and looking ahead to the next one.

In the seven months since opening, we've been honored to hold burials and memorial tree plantings for people of all ages and walks of life — from babies who were born but never drew a breath to adults who lived nearly a century. Each one was cherished, not for the length but for the breadth of their respective lives. You can read about one such individual below.

We also celebrated many moments when the Park came alive with people gathered for music, service, or learning as we hosted programs that brought our community together and cared for the environment.

As we anticipate the bright summer season ahead, we look forward to seeing what takes root at Reflection Park and beyond.

Mission Moment

Susan Wright, our Family Services and Operations Manager, reflects on a recent burial in this short remembrance.

Alice’s burial was a first for me in two ways: it was the first time I got to know someone before their burial at Reflection Park, and the first time we interred the cremains of a beloved pet alongside their person.

Alice first reached out to us in 2023 after reading an article in the Washington Post about natural burial. Her grandson told us it was the wicker casket that really won her over –- fitting, since much of her furniture is wicker. As she was making her own burial plans, she chose the Windsor Willow Casket, saying it sounded regal. And she was right; she was a queen!

At our last visit, she mentioned that she had made arrangements years ago with a local funeral home but worried the package included embalming. We looked through her paperwork together and discovered that the 2019 contract was actually for cremation. I helped her connect with the funeral home’s advance planning coordinator, and she updated her arrangements to have the natural burial she so wanted.

The following week, I called to arrange a time to drop off Alice’s paperwork. Honestly, I was just looking forward to another visit with her. Her daughter called back two days later to let me know Alice had died the night before.

For us at Reflection Park, every burial is a unique experience and profound privilege. We are grateful to walk alongside our families for a small part of their journey in honoring their loved ones.

Learn More

Are you curious about natural burial or considering it for yourself or a loved one? Here are a few ways to learn more:

• Register to attend an Open House. Our next dates are June 20 and July 8, 18, 19 & 27.

• Schedule a virtual pre-need meeting with Reflection Park staff or start the process online on your own.

• Read our burial planning guide.

What’s Happening!
Events at Reflection Park

Common Ground: Edible Invasives & Trail Maintenance

Caring for Caregivers: Forest Bathing

Past Events

We’ve had the pleasure of hosting several community and volunteer events at Reflection Park, reflecting our mission to care for each other and the earth.

In the Community

Reflection Park has been getting out into the community! This spring we set up booths at four local events: Montgomery County GreenFest, Olney Party in the Park, Rockville Hometown Holidays, and we even ventured across the bridge to Virginia for Viva Vienna!

These events gave us the chance to have real conversations with people of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom had never heard of natural burial before. We met faith leaders, home health and hospice providers, new parents working on their wills, older adults planning ahead, and business owners. Some people were overjoyed to discover that natural burial is an option in Montgomery County. Others came in skeptical but open-minded. Every interaction was meaningful in its own way.

Getting out into the community lets us meet people where they are, answer questions, and share what natural burial is all about — and we love every minute of it. Our next stop is the Downtown Silver Spring Market on June 27 and July 25 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. We’d love to meet you there.

Is there an upcoming event in your community that might want to hear from us? Please email us at info@reflectionpark.org and let us know about it!

In the News

We’re always delighted when we see natural burial covered in local media and humbled when the coverage includes mention of us. Recently Reflection Park and our Little Wind Phone (the headliner of our last newsletter) were featured by Baltimore’s WMAR. Click the image below to see the video version or click here to read the article online.

Reflection Park team member Natalie Bailey co-authored this informative piece for a community publication (see page 9). Thanks, Natalie!

How You Can Help

It takes a village, and we are grateful when you do any of the following:

• Share this newsletter

• Follow us on social media (Instagram & Facebook) 

• Volunteer your time or talent

• Donate to one of Reflection Park’s charitable funds by clicking here or on the image below

• Submit an idea for an article or blog post for consideration in our Community Pen series, in which we share perspectives from community members on themes relevant to Reflection Park’s mission

Reflection Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We are grateful for every dollar contributed in support of our mission to create a sacred place that celebrates the cycle of life, death, and renewal.

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