Mother’s Day is next Sunday! Do you already have a gift for your mom, aunt, grandma, sister, or motherly figure in your life? If not, consider shopping around the garden center. It is a great place to shop for gifts for mom, whether she is a plant whisperer or a plant killer. There is something for everyone!
I just sent my dad a text. It read, “Hey! Does Mom need anything specific for her garden this year? Something that I could get her for Mother’s Day?”
His response, “I can’t think of anything she really needs… but she likes any serendipitous, ornamental thing to hang on the fence or go in the ground/around the garden.”
Whether it’s a piece of artwork, or a garden stake, I have some ideas now. Thanks, Dad!
Get a Low-Maintenance Houseplant!
If I lived in the same state as my mom, I’d consider giving her a potted-up house plant. The first year that my sister became a mom, I bought her a ZZ plant. I said, “I know you don’t have time for plants anymore. So, that’s why I got you the easiest plant there is.” Five years later, she still has the plant, and sends me biannual updates on how it’s doing. (Want to learn more about this low-maintenance houseplant? Click ‘here‘)
Maybe you want to gift something a little more colorful than a ZZ plant. African violets and orchids are both great ideas. They require more attention than a ZZ plant, so maybe you buy the fertilizer to go with the orchid, or the self-watering pot to go with the violet.
A Gardener Gift Basket
The “garden gift basket” is one of my favorites, and my go-to gift idea for just about anyone and any occasion. You can use this idea for newlyweds, a housewarming gift, a birthday present, a Christmas present, an Easter basket, Father’s Day, and you guessed it — Mother’s Day.
I love the gift basket idea because you can personalize it in so many ways. Maybe instead of using a true “basket” to hold all the items, you buy, and use, a nice piece of pottery. Throw a pair of gardening gloves in there, with some pruning shearers, a trowel, packets of seeds, a small bag of soil, a bag of fertilizer, and even a live plant.
Roll Up Those Sleeves!
Do you still need more ideas? What about the “yard-work coupon, good for one day of yardwork, provided by your loving family!” Oh boy, mom will love that one. She’ll probably have you put down mulch, pull up weeds, rake the leaves, etc. So, it might be tough work, but the smile it will put on her face will be worth it. Oh, and did I mention, this gift is virtually FREE! Just give up some of your time, and you won’t have to shell out a dime. In fact, if you’re willing to do the work, I bet mom would pay for the mulch!
At the end of the day, all that mom really cares about is that you put some thought and effort into finding her a gift that is personalized to her. Whether you pick out a special blooming plant, a nice piece of pottery, or put together a gardening gift basket – if there is some sentiment behind the gift, she is sure to love it.
Written by John MacMillan
