For those people who haven’t bought anything for Mother’s Day next Sunday, you had better think quick! As you can probably guess, my recommendation is always for a green present.
The Mother’s Day tradition began in North America in 1907 with a daughter who arranged with her local church to pay tribute to her mother during the service on the second Sunday of May. Other towns and cities adopted the tribute across North America, with the addition of flowers as a sign of love.
This tribute to mothers became so much in general acceptance that the American Congress declared it an official day of celebration in 1914.
The first thought is to buy Mum the traditional bunch of Mother’s Day flowers. Unfortunately, the cut blooms soon die, and with them the memories of a wonderful day.
With a little thought and planning, you can give Mum her special flowers still growing and flowering and able to be planted in the garden, providing years of pleasure instead of just days.
The first choice is potted chrysanthemums. They are available in a wide range of decorator colours, and you can choose the flowers to match or blend in with your mother’s colour schemes. If your mother prefers the traditional Mother’s Day flowers, the potted Chrysanthemums are still available with the pure white blooms. After the time of flowering inside is over, the Chrysanthemums can be planted out into an open garden, or kept in the container for another season.
For the non-traditionalists, why not try a different flowering gift. Flowering Azaleas are starting to appear in local nurseries in a large variety of flower colours. If available, I would recommend looking for Azalea magnifica, as it is one of the hardiest varieties for local gardens. The Azalea is the Chinese symbol for womanhood and those who look for meaning in a plant, Azalea means moderation and temperance.
For the Mum that is always full of joy maybe a Kangaroo Paw is a good choice, I like the Anigozanthos Bush Ranger. It is a hardy Kangaroo Paw with bright red flowers on tall stems in late spring and summer that are bird attractive. It’s a compact, very free flowering variety that’s perfect for sunny positions in pots or gardens. Anigozanthos Bush Ranger is one of the most drought tolerant Australian plants
A favourite plant variety that is virtually indestructible indoors is that of the Spathophyllum or Madonna Lilies, which is available in various sizes and shapes, but all have the distinctive white flower. These would be great if your Mum’s thumb is brown rather than green! It may be worth taking the time to visit your local nurseries this weekend to plan the present for your Mum this Mother’s Day.
Even the male chauvinist can still purchase a living Mother’s Day gift. The plant that I would suggest would have to be the Holly Fuchsia, with its meaning of ‘good taste’. With stunning foliage and flowers Graptophyllum ilicifolium or Holly Fuchsia is a must. This shade-loving shrub grows 2 to 3m and is also intolerant of frosts. At the end of spring beautiful deep pink tubular flowers engross the entire shrub. The flowering season is short, but very showy. A light prune after flowering will encourage a compact shape to the shrub as well as provide more flowers next year.
Other plants and flowers Mothers would like to receive include:
* Pink Carnation flowers symbolises gratitude and love.
* White Carnations flowers symbolises remembrance.
* Callistemon or Bottlebrush flower symbolises strength and Courage.
* Day Lily flowers are an Asian emblem for motherhood and symbolises virtue and prosperity.
* Gardenia flowers in Victorian times were given as a way to tell friends or family members, you’re lovely and symbolises joy and refinement.
* Gerbera flowers symbolises cheerfulness.
* Grevillea flowers symbolises the sign of love, faith and calmness.
* Yellow Rose flowers symbolise a caring nature.
* Pink Rose flowers symbolises gratitude, appreciation and strength.
* Orchid flowers symbolises grace, joy and happiness.
WHAT NOT TO GIVE
Warning – the following half dozen plants could be hazardous to your inheritance if given as Mother’s Day gifts!
* Balsam – means impatience
* Evening Primrose – means inconstancy
* Hydrangea – means heartless
* Marigold – means grief, cruelty in love
* Snapdragon – means no
* Venus Fly Trap – means duplicity or liar
