Today Mother’s Day is celebrated across 46 countries (on different dates) and is an incredibly popular holiday.

Millions of people take the day as an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. There is also the tradition of gift giving and I cannot think of a more suitable gift than something blooming.

What did you expect me say?  I am in the business of selling plants and color. : )

Mother’s Day weekend usually marks the spring season peak for container plant sales, annual flowers in pots, perennials, flats and hanging baskets.

If you are considering a hanging basket for mom, be sure to take into consideration the area which you think mom will hang her basket. The amount of sun or shade will determine the type of plants that will flourish in that area.

Remember, hanging baskets will require more water than plants planted in the ground. As a result, it is necessary to replenish the hanging baskets with nutrients from time to time. Purchase mom a well balanced fertilizer such as Monty’s or Osmocote so she can enjoy blooms all summer long. If the basket contains petunias, look for Jack’s Classic Petunia Feed, it’s specially formulated for petunias.

Garden centers throughout the tri- state have a wonderful supply of blooming goodies that will definitely bring a huge smile to mom’s face.

Some of the blooming shrubs that will make great Mother’s Day gifts are the Bloomerang Lilacs, Bombshell Hydrangeas and the “I can’t do without” Endless Summer Hydrangea.

Bloomerang and Bombshell are newer introductions and have been highly touted in the gardening world. Bloomerang Lilac is a repeat bloomer, meaning that after its initial bloom period, you prune it back lightly and it will bloom again later in the summer.

Bombshell has to be one of my favorites.  Last year I used it in a couple of designs and was really pleased with its performance. It can tolerate sun, stays compact and is a strong bloomer. As you can see, it does well in containers, too.

Since its introduction, the Endless Summer Hydrangea has long been a favorite among gardeners. It’s known for its ability to provide an abundance of prolific blooms all summer, what more can you ask of a plant?

Perhaps the Queen of climbers will make an excellent gift for mom this Mother’s Day. If there is a spot in her garden that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day, the clematis will be a great addition to the landscape.

Clematis are often seen climbing their way up a trellis, meandering around a lamp post or weaving its way up and around and archway or arbor.

There are many clematis to choose from, one of my favorites, and she’s been around for a while, is Nellie Moser. She is pictured above gracefully hugging the lamp post. Remember, clematis like for their heads to be in the sun and their feet in the shade. When I say that, I mean they prefer to have something planted low in front of their root structure just as it comes up from out of the ground. A low growing annual or perennial will work just fine.

Last but not least, don’t forget the Knockout and Drift roses. If mom doesn’t have a Knockout Rose, I know she will really appreciate receiving one for Mother’s Day. She will smile all summer admiring the blooms of the Knockout Rose.

If mom is out of town, your local florists will be able to assist in making the necessary arrangements with another participating florist in the Teleflora or FTD network. A little tip, ask your florist to search for another florist that has a garden center or green houses if you want to send a blooming type of shrub such as a hydrangea, lilac or Knockout Rose.

Your local nurseries, garden centers and florists will be able to help you find that perfect gift for mom this Mother’s Day. Remember to stay local and support independent businesses in your community. You will always receive quality products, professional advice and a true appreciation from local business owners for your business.