This next story brings a more poetic meaning to the phrase "pushing up daisies."

Green cemeteries are sprouting up across the nation and right here in our area, taking the dearly departed back to nature.

It's a place where butterflies float happily from one colorful blossom to another.

But this is no ordinary place of peace.

"The primary reason that people come here is because of the desire to become part of nature," said Ed Vogrins, president of Fountain Hill Cemetery.

Green Meadow at the Fountain Hill Cemetery is the first green cemetery in the Lehigh Valley.

And one of only 150 across the country.

Vogrins says only one person has taken eternal rest here, but soon, there will be others sleeping under a carpet of wildflowers.

Green burial means no embalming, no metal caskets or concrete liners -- just natural materials to be absorbed by Mother Nature.

"And become part of the elements to be caught up in the soil where you enrich the soil," said Vogrins.

Push of a tree, push of flowers and then become part of the great cycle of life." said Mark Harris, author of Grave Matters, a book on green burial.

Harris says what's considered a green burial now is the way it used to be done.

He says it's also more intimate, with family members and friends giving the body back to the earth and covering the casket with soil.

Vogrins says there will be a path through the green cemetery so when people come to visit their loved ones they will be surrounded by natural beauty.

"What you see is not an environment of death, not a landscape of headstones, but you see flowers, you see wild grass and in some places you see trees," said Harris.

Harris says green burial also tends to be significantly cheaper than traditional burial.

Green Meadow encourages anyone with questions about green burial to check out its opening October 10.