Q: We’d like to plant a tree in honor and memory of a beloved family dog. I want to place a permanent marker of some sort beneath the tree. Do you have any suggestions about how to do this?

A: One option is to cast a concrete stepping stone and engrave the name of the pet into the surface before it hardens. For a more formal look you could buy a piece of flat Cherokee stone paver and epoxy a brass marker to the surface. The Comfort Company (www.thecomfortcompany.net) sells a variety of stones and markers used for memorial purposes.