By Brian Minter
Mother’s Day is coming up and it’s a great time to think about some meaningful gifts for that very special person in our families.
Many moms have a connection to gardening, whether it’s through a simple herb garden or beautiful flowering container to brighten up the patio or porch. Gifts like this, that she can enjoy and appreciate over a long period of time, are practical and much appreciated!
Each patio container can be truly unique, and most are easy-to-care-for. Focal points like small topiary lavender trees are wonderful, especially the Spanish types like Anouk, because they have continuous blooms all summer, a beautiful scent, and attract both bees and butterflies. Surrounded with complementary plants like fragrant heliotrope, alyssum and nemesia you can add perfume and colour all summer long.
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Brian Minter Photo
For shady spots, focal plants like small standard fuchsia trees combined with impatiens and begonias will offer easy-care, long-lasting beauty. The addition of the orange-tubed cuphea will also attract hummingbirds to your planters.
Hanging baskets enhance any outdoor living space, but make sure to choose the appropriate sun or shade mix. Fuchsias like Wilma Verslot love the shade, are some of the strongest blooming, and attract hummingbirds.
Foliage baskets are becoming ever more popular and are easier to care for than plants that must be deadheaded. A dramatic combination of foliage, from multicoloured coleus, sweet potato vines, oxalis, ivies, tradescantias, creeping Jenny and other assorted vines and ferns make stunning baskets.
Brian Minter Photo
The spectacular moss baskets are always showstoppers with a wide range of diverse foliage and novelty plants. One of my favourites is the Solena begonia series. The baskets are vibrant, love both sun and shade, and will tolerate our summer heat.
For edible hanging baskets, the two most productive are Tumbler and Tumbling Tom tomatoes, and ever-bearing strawberries like Berries Hill Montana. They will produce delicious fruits all summer long.
Herb gardens can not only be very attractive, but also valuable to add flavour to daily meals. Rosemary, Italian parsley, chives, mints, sage and thyme create a wonderful assortment of culinary opportunities. The addition of edible flowers, like violas, can really colour up those summer salads.
Of course, cut bouquets of freshly cut flowers are always appreciated, especially if a little fragrance from stems such as Oriental lilies are included in the mix.
With a little creativity and by selecting the right candidate for the right location, plants make wonderful gifts for moms. They truly are gifts that keep on giving!
Brian Minter is an award-winning horticulturist, author and syndicated columnist from Chilliwack, B.C. He and his wife, Faye, founded Minter Gardens, a 32-acre mixed-style show garden.
Brian Minter Photo
Featured image: Brian Minter
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