We’re grateful to share that Hope Eternal Gardens has been featured on WGCU, the PBS and NPR affiliate serving Southwest Florida. The story is now available to stream on WGCU+: Watch the feature on WGCU+ The feature explores Hope Eternal Gardens’ work as Charlotte County’s first officially accredited arboretum and the transformation of a former ranch in Punta Gorda into a living landscape for remembrance, afforestation, education, and community. Hope Eternal Gardens asks a si

Most memorials are made to resist change. A headstone is carved once and set in place. Its job is to endure. Wind, rain, and years wear at it, but the stone holds on. There is something tender about that. But we began wondering what a memorial might look like if it were made to change. What if it could grow taller each spring, shelter birds, drop seeds, and become more itself every year? That question is at the heart of the Museum of Trees. A museum without walls The Museum o

Family, friends, fellow officers, and community members planted the Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial Forest at Hope Eternal Gardens in January 2025. Punta Gorda natural burial cemetery earns Level I Accreditation from ArbNet and The Morton Arboretum Media Contact: Lauren Robie (941) 413-0415 lauren@hopeeternalgardens.com PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (October 9, 2026) – Hope Eternal Gardens has become Charlotte County’s first accredited arboretum, earning Level I Accreditation through the ArbNet

An arboretum is, at its simplest, a living collection of trees. It is planted with intention, cared for over time, documented, and shared with the public. The word sounds formal, like something that belongs to universities and grand botanical gardens. But some of the oldest arboreta in America were cemeteries. In the nineteenth century, before the country had public parks or many art museums, rural cemeteries like Mount Auburn outside Boston were where people went to walk amo

Why conversations about end-of-life choices matter Recently, WGCU Public Media featured Hope Eternal Gardens in a story exploring alternative burial options across Florida and the growing interest in more personal, ecological forms of remembrance. Hope Eternal Gardens is grateful to correspondents Elizabeth Andarge and Andrea Melendez, along with the entire WGCU team, for thoughtfully helping bring awareness to these important conversations. For founders Lauren Robie and Chri

Reflections on sharing Hope Eternal Gardens with Harvard Graduate School of Design students Photo by Craig Douglas This spring, I had the opportunity to virtually visit the Harvard Graduate School of Design and speak with students in the “Landscapes of Remembrance” Landscape Architecture Core II studio coordinated by Craig Douglas. The conversation centered around Hope Eternal Gardens — our licensed natural burial cemetery, memorial forest, and future public park in rural Pun

Stock Photo by Greg Johnson (Unsplash) An Unexpected Visit In the days leading up to the planting for the Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial , our team was preparing the land – laying out the walkway, staging trees, and getting everything organized for the families and officers who would soon gather. While we were working, two bald eagles appeared over the memorial site. They circled above us, and then one of them flew down and landed directly on the ground where the memorial walkway wo

A living tribute built by the community he served Today, we are honored to officially launch the fundraiser for the Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial , a community-built tribute that reflects the life, character, and final moments of service of Sgt. Diaz, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on December 15, 2024. For more than a decade, Sgt. Diaz protected and uplifted the Charlotte County community. In the months since his passing, friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors h

Voting Underway for Daily Sun FIERCE Women Awards, October 2025 We are honored to share that Lauren Robie , co-founder of Hope Eternal...

We were honored to participate in the Florida End of Life Doula Alliance (FEOLDA) PANEL DISCUSSION with FLORIDA's GREEN BURIAL...

On September 18th, 2025, we were honored to join the Global Green Burial Alliance ’s Florida Forum alongside leaders from across the...

Q: How did Hope begin? Hope Eternal Gardens began with my mother, Kena Alonso. She lived with Inclusion Body Myositis, a disease that...

When people hear that I co-founded a natural burial cemetery, the first reaction is often curiosity – how does someone end up starting a...

We are honored to share that Hope Eternal Gardens has been featured in the September/October issue of Boca Grande Gasparilla Island...

Not Planted. Not Planned. Just Growing Here. At Hope Eternal Gardens, we believe the land often has more wisdom than we do. While we...

A stormwater pond, originally designed for drainage, is transformed into a lush habitat, enhancing biodiversity and greenery near the...

At first glance, our logo may seem like a simple image—but look a little closer, and you’ll discover layers of meaning woven into every...

View of the restored Flower Garden. Photo by Chris Alonso. Drawing of the gardens at The Mount. Drawing by Chris Alonso. Gardens are more...

Photography is a beautiful way to remember the people and moments we love. A picture can help us celebrate life, hold on to memories, and...

Wildflowers are more than just pretty plants. In Southwest Florida, they help nature stay healthy and strong. They grow in many places —...