Flowers can brighten Mom’s day
Mother’s Day presents can be a challenge. You want to give your mom something special, but she lives far away, or she already has everything she needs, or you suspect that she’s tired of getting a box of candy every year but would never mention that to you, her favorite child.
So this year, consider flowers, which come in many forms and can suit any lifestyle.
And also consider remembering the other nurturers in your life — such as friends, stepmoms, aunts and teachers. After all, you needn’t be a mom to be a mother figure.
Here are some ideas to help get you started:
For busy moms
You know Mom will beam when you hand her a fresh bouquet or when the delivery person drops one off at her door.
Such a gift requires no time or effort from her, although for longevity she should keep the bouquet out of drafts and direct sun.
For moms with limited space
Has your mom recently downsized, or is her house or apartment a little cramped?
Then a flowering plant in a pot might be perfect.
A container plant has a small footprint but makes a lovely and colorful accent.
For indoors, try an African violet; if Mom has a porch or patio, a cheerful annual such as petunias (for sun) or impatiens (for shade) would be a good choice.
For moms who garden
If you have a mom who loves to kneel down and get her hands dirty, show that you support her passion by giving her flowers for her garden.
This time of year, garden centers are overflowing with vibrant choices.
For an instant pop of color, look for annuals, which live for only one year; for a choice that will bloom year after year, go with perennials. For a tree that smothers itself in blossoms every spring, it’s hard to top crabapples. Annuals such as orange gerbera daisies and yellow lantana thrive in full sun. For moms with a yard
Maybe your mom’s landscape has a few bare spots, or perhaps there’s an unsightly fence in desperate need of camouflage.
This year, a flowering shrub might be the way to show your love.
The right choice can add year-round structure, require little maintenance, and — at flowering time — become a showstopper.
And flowering shrubs can fill almost any niche or suit any taste.
For spring bloom, shop for classics such as forsythia or lilac. For summer flowers, look for a butterfly bush or hibiscus.
Of course, you’ll plant and mulch it for her, then visit frequently during the Roses and other cheerful flowers create an arrangement that’s sure to please Mom. A pot of colorful annuals such as petunias will brighten a porch or patio all summer. summer to make sure it’s receiving sufficient water.
For moms who deserve a grand gesture
Perhaps you’d like to commemorate a milestone Hibiscus shrubs such as Cranberry Crush boast attention-getting flowers. (is she a new grandma?), or maybe a major birthday or anniversary is coming up.
In any case, nothing will knock Mom’s socks off like a flowering tree. A thoughtfully chosen specimen will live for many decades and make her think of you every year when it blooms.
Popular options in central Ohio include magnolias and crabapples. If your mom is on the adventurous side, pick a more unusual species, such as horse chestnut or witch hazel. Grape hyacinth Valerie Finnis
Light: Full sun to part shade
Height: 6-8 inches Spread: 1-2 inches
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Origin: Armenia, this variety is a garden hybrid
One of the best blue flowering plants is the Valerie Finnis grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum “Valerie Finnis”).
This spring-blooming bulb is short (only 6 to 8 inches tall) but packs a colorful punch. The fragrant blooms are made up of beautiful pastel-blue, cone-shaped racemes (a cluster of separate flowers that are attached by identical-length stalks along a center stem).
The green, lance-shaped leaves resemble blades of grass.
Valerie Finnis grape hyacinths are named after a British plantswoman who discovered these growing in her garden.
Grape hyacinths are easy to plant and naturalize in the garden; try mixing them with perennials or grouping them together for a fantastic drift. Grape hyacinths send up some foliage in the fall, gathering extra food for the winter and next spring’s blooms (or, perhaps, to remind the gardener where they are).
Meet the Valerie Finnish grape hyacinths at the Sculpture Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.