Moms are pretty special, and since Mother’s Day is almost here, I’d like to offer a few suggestions to say, “Thank you,” beautifully.
Indoor plants, flowering shrubs, and small flowering trees are wonderful lifelong gifts. They make our living spaces a lot more enjoyable and attractive as well.
The type of plant you give, however, should fit Mom’s lifestyle. If she is away a great deal, small tropicals or hanging baskets are certainly not the answer. I would suggest something like an outdoor garden planter. Larger patio tubs can usually go a long while between waterings, and the addition of a small tree on your deck or patio can make quite a difference, providing privacy or cooling a hot seating area. Containers about the size of a half wine barrel, such as large 50cm cedar tubs or terra cotta or resin pots, can make an attractive permanent garden. By using lightweight soil mixes, the weight problem can be minimized if you’re gardening on a balcony. If you add casters to the bottom of the pots, they can be moved easily if necessary, or if you just want to change the perspective.
Hanging baskets are a lovely gift too, but once again, you need to make sure they are large enough that they do not require daily attention.
There are so many hanging baskets being mass produced today that you’ll have to find something unique, that has a more personal touch. Ideally the containers should be a minimum of 14 to 16 inches across and deep in order to keep maintenance down. If you are giving a gift of fuchsias or begonias, make sure they are going into a shady location. Large herb gardens, with edible flowers mixed in, are colourful and a delightful culinary surprise, or you could create a containerized vegetable garden and include some of the latest compact-growing vegetables like "Tumbler" tomatoes, everbearing strawberries, colourful "Simply Salad" leaf lettuce mixes, and "Bright Lights" Swiss chard.
Planting a tree in the yard to mark special occasions is not only a nice commemorative gesture, but it’s also a good environmental plan, especially in urban areas.
There are many kinds of trees that are well suited to small space gardens. Japanese maples, beautiful pink or white dogwoods, tree form magnolias and weeping katsura trees are particularly lovely candidates.
Flowering trees and shrubs that attract birds and butterflies to the yard are wonderful additions. Buddleias (Butterfly Bush), especially the new Proven Winners’ dwarf series "Lo and Behold" are magnets for all kinds of beautiful butterflies. The fast-growing orange flowered vine, campsis ‘Indian Summer’ attracts late hummingbirds. The Korean or kousa dogwood not only has gorgeous blossoms and great fall colour, but also has edible seed pods. Speaking of edibles, the collection of container plants like "Raspberry Shortcake" raspberries and the new non-stop variety of blueberries, "Perpetua," will provide a continuous summer buffet.
If your Mom enjoys fragrance, there are all kinds of choices available. From the new Proven Winners compact "Bloomerang" lilac that blooms now and again in the fall, to the perfumed snowballs of the viburnum carcephalum shrub, to the many new disease-resistant, sweetly scented roses, and the lovely "Eternal Fragrance" daphne, there is much from which to choose.
Perennial plants are always appreciated. Peonies, which are just now coming into bloom, lavenders, especially the continuous-blooming "Anouk" Spanish lavenders, and the blue perennial geranium, "Rozanne," which will bloom all summer, are among the most cherished.
Water on the patio remains a huge trend. Containers that hold water can be simply stunning when filled with floating water hyacinths, water lilies and a myriad of colorful flowering water plants. Easy-care plug-in fountains, with their soothing sounds, are delightful, and you can add even more music to her ears with high quality wind chimes.
All these suggestions are gifts that will last well, and for the most part, will grow in beauty each year. You might even plant Mom’s gift for her — in the right location of course! So be a little creative this Mother’s Day and add your own special touch to Mom’s gift.
It isn’t just the flowers and plants, but the innovative ways in which they are presented and can be enjoyed, either indoors or out, that will make all the difference.
