LOVE BLOOMS
Some creative gift ideas for moms with a green thumb
Sunday, May 13 is all about Mom. It’s not surprising that Mother’s Day is the largest floral event in the horticultural world.
The whole idea of this occasion is to add some value to a mother’s life with a gift she will truly enjoy by employing a little creativity and thought. No question that fresh flowers would brighten her day, but do you know what flowers she loves most, what colours she likes best, and does she enjoy flowers that have a perfume?
A gift of flowers does not have to be a huge, expensive arrangement. A simple bouquet speaks volumes. Something like popular gerbera daisies are so colourful and cheery that they will lift anyone’s spirits. Larger cut bouquets, pre-wrapped and ready to go directly into a vase, come in various price points and always give you excellent value. For something more dramatic, creative florists can also design custom-made arrangements that are exceptionally beautiful and unique, especially if presented in a keepsake vase.
If Mom has a patio or deck where she spends time, an outdoor summer container or basket is a gift she would enjoy. It’s very important to know where the container will be placed. Will it sit in a shady or sunny area? For the container to thrive, the type of plants used, whether sunloving or shade-loving, must be suited to the location.
It’s a nice touch when the container has some perfumed plants, such as heliotrope. Even more interesting are containers with plants that attract pollinators or that have red tubular flowers to entice hummingbirds.
Larger containers, ones that are at least 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter, are far easier to look after in the summer heat because their soil mass does not dry out so quickly. Make sure to add an appropriate amount of slowrelease fertilizer so Mom doesn’t have to feed as frequently over the summer.
If your mother is a foodie, a herb garden would be very much appreciated, especially one planted with the herbs she loves to use. Make sure the container is large enough to perform well through the summer. A bay tree or a rosemary plant makes a striking focal point, with oregano, thyme, sage, chives and parsley used to fill in the pot. Herbs come in various foliage shapes and colours and are very attractive when planted in combinations.
Did your mother remind you on a regular basis to eat your vegetables? If so, she may very well delight in the irony of receiving a vegetable container that you created with her in mind. Again, use a larger rectangular pot to ensure the veggies have room to thrive in the heat of summer. Most vegetable containers need four to six hours of sun to perform at their optimum level.
Today, there are many compact varieties of vegetables that are well suited to growing in limited space, yet still have great productivity. The ‘Simply Salad’ series, for example, are different leaf lettuce blends that can be harvested and enjoyed over a longer period.
I love using a four to five-foot (120 cm-150cm) trellis in containers on which vining vegetables can grow, allowing more space for other plants. Climbing beans, peas and cucumbers do nicely on a trellis, look very attractive, and can even provide privacy if placed on a balcony or deck.
If privacy is a concern, your mother may welcome a small tree planted in a container. Japanese maples come in a wide variety of sizes, colours and shapes and make excellent accent pieces. Green foliaged varieties will do fine in more shaded areas, while red Japanese maples need sun to keep their colour. Both types will look great at night if you add some LED mini-lights.
Moms who garden often have very specific ideas on what they like. They tend to love the newest and most unique “must-have” plants that make their gardens special, so a gift card from a favourite garden store would be a much-appreciated gift.
Garden roses are nice, but make sure you choose a variety that is disease resistant and has a great perfume. The Kordes and Easy Elegance brands hit this target nicely.
Attracting birds, butterflies and pollinators is a very popular trend. The new, more compact, sterile butterfly shrubs make ideal gifts, as do the fragrant Korean lilacs, like the twice blooming (spring and late summer) ‘Bloomathon’ lilacs.
Any fuchsia with long tubular flowers, like the old-fashioned ‘Gartenmeister’ and the newer trailing ‘Wilma’, are hummingbird magnets. Adding a hummingbird feeder makes all the difference in attracting them. Would your mother enjoy feeding hummingbirds by hand? Today, that’s possible with the new hand-held feeders, called Nectar Dots.
As for garden accessories, there are many options, from solar patio lights and garden lanterns to statuary and plug-in fountains for container water gardens.
Some great Canadian, U.S. and English gardening publications are available. A magazine subscription will offer a year of exciting new plant, garden and landscape ideas, and gardening books are a terrific resource for anyone interested in gardens.
If Mom loves visiting gardens, arrange a visit to one of the many fine public gardens we have in B.C. — you will both have an enjoyable outing and create some wonderful memories. Choose a mid-week time when it’s not so busy.
These are just a few gift ideas for celebrating the mothers and mother figures in your life. Of course, if you can’t be with her in person, remember to give her a phone call — she’ll like nothing better than hearing your voice.