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 —...

Dorothy and her granddaughter share a joyful moment amidst the vibrant growth of the forest Dorothy planted months earlier. Co-founder...

Spotlight on Micro-Forests Earlier this week, Hope Eternal Gardens had the privilege of presenting a lecture on micro-forests  at the...

Co-founder Lauren Robie presents a captivating slideshow on a planetarium dome, showcasing renderings of Hope's future lush forest. Hope...

A big thank you to Bloom Academy  for featuring our story in their monthly newsletter! Read the full article below. "When we look closely at a life well lived, there is a small, but powerful truth hidden in plain sight. The truth is that life isn’t one big firework show. The “stuff” of life is actually each moment, big and small. Yes, it is proudly watching our little ones graduate from VPK with their miniature cap and gown (and feeling all of the feelings). And yet, equally

Planting a forest is joyful, meaningful, and… a little messy. At the Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial Forest Planting Day, dozens of volunteers spent the morning digging, planting, watering, and working side by side to bring the first phase of the memorial to life. With all that hands-on effort, clean hands became a necessity – especially when snack breaks rolled around. Thanks to the Southwest Florida TOI TOI USA team, we were covered. They generously contributed portable hand-washin

One of the biggest challenges of the Miyawaki Forest Planting Method is sourcing the right plants. For the Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial Forest, we needed more than 22 native Florida species to recreate a healthy, layered habitat. Ideally, we look for 1-gallon or 3-gallon plants – small enough for a child to pick up, easy for families to handle, and perfect for dense forest planting. But as planting day drew closer, a handful of key species were still missing in those smaller sizes