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If you’re the oldest sibling in your family, you can go ahead and close this tab. As for everyone else? It’s time to make a plan for Mother’s Day. A little forethought goes a long way toward making moms feel appreciated, such as ordering a bouquet of fresh flowers. There are many easy ways to make this quintessential Mother’s Day gift even more special. Here, we’ve gathered six ideas from floral experts for a more-than-the-bare-minimum bouquet.
Source what’s in season.
While some flowers and stems can be found year-round (think: roses, eucalyptus, baby’s breath, etc.), often you’ll be limited to what’s in season when ordering bouquets from a florist. Lucky for you, Mother’s Day falls during the growing seasons of some of the most sought-after flowers. Peonies, lilacs, ranunculus, and tulips are all in their peak, says Katty Simbana, owner of Juliette Floral Design in Brooklyn, NY. Since mom likely won’t be able to get these blooms any other time of the year, she’ll certainly appreciate the spoils of spring while they last. Bonus points if you seek out flowers that are grown and sold locally. These stems spend less time in transit, so they’re less likely to arrive damaged, and they’ll almost always last longer in a vase than flowers that have roughed it through international travel.
Get her some pruning shears.
One way to remain in Mom’s good graces? Ensure her bouquet lasts as long as possible. Plenty of people overlook proper care of cut flowers, but cutting the stems on an angle and changing the water every two days, according to Simbana, can make your flowers last for weeks. Instead of leaving mom to her own devices with a pair of regular scissors, get her a sharp pair of pruning shears that will cleanly snip the bottoms of her blooms. A clean cut allows the flowers to drink water more efficiently, and shears come particularly in handy with tough, woody stems that put up a fight with regular scissors.
Find unique flowers to go that extra mile.
It should go without saying that asking (and remembering!) what type of flowers your mom likes will go a long way toward making her feel appreciated. If she loves lilies, get her lilies, of course, but if her favorites aren’t in season or you’re stumped on what she really likes, ask your florist what stems they have in stock that are out of the norm. While Haylee G. Garcia, floral assistant at Flordel Flowers in New York points out that the most-ordered flowers for Mother’s Day include roses, sunflowers, orchids, and hydrangeas, Simbana recommends adding in some more unique flowers like celosia or anemones to elevate the bouquet. Some other fabulous florals to consider: pincushion protea, starflowers, poppies, and Billy balls.
Pick a vase she’ll really love.
If you’re ordering flowers to be delivered, they’ll most likely come in a vase from the florist, but an easy way to make them feel more special is to pick out a vase you know your mom will love (and use again and again). For a gift that keeps on giving, look for sculptural shapes, colored glass, and ceramic for something that’s a step above a simple, clear glass vase.
Consider a potted plant.
Maybe your mom doesn’t have an affinity for cut flowers — that doesn’t mean you can’t order her something lush for Mother’s Day. A live plant is just as special as a bouquet, and with proper care, will also last much longer. It doesn’t hurt that mom will think of you fondly each time she waters her plant, either. Glenroy Mahfood, owner of Natty Garden in Brooklyn, NY, recommends a snake plant, ZZ plant, cast iron plant, or Chinese evergreen for beginners, and adds that flowering plants (like orchids, laceleafs, peace lilies, tulips, azaleas, and gardenias) are also a popular choice for Mother’s Day.
Make a personalized care card.
Do some research on a particular plant or flower’s care and add some pointers about water, light, temperature, and trimming. This way, your mom will have all the info she needs to keep her new flora healthy. For plants, Mahfood also suggests picking up a moisture meter to prevent overwatering, which he says is the most common way people end up killing their plants.
Spend time finding the perfect card.
Instead of settling for the first card you come across, make a concerted effort to find a card that speaks to your personal relationship with your mom. Pick a funny card if your mom has a great sense of humor, look for intricate details and spring for a slightly pricier card if she appreciates the finer things, or find cards with pop culture references for moms in the loop. Bonus points, of course, if you include a heartfelt message and thank her for everything she’s done for you.
PHOTO CREDIT:
Photography: Paul Quitoriano
Art Direction: Sarah Ceniceros Gomez
