Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10. So many traditions will be disrupted this year — no restaurant brunch, no big family gatherings, no special event to mark the occasion — but flowers can still be sent. In addition, you can plant some flowers at home to remember your mom, or plant some at her home to say how much you care. Here are some flowers that reflect the love we feel for our moms.
• Carnations have traditionally been used to honor Mother’s Day. In the language of flowers, carnations represent purity, faith, love, and charity. Dianthus, a variety of carnation, can be planted in sunny locations in Indiana gardens as a perennial.
• The showy Gerbera Daisy is a cheerful, bright flower that can also be planted in the garden or given in a bouquet. Gerbera Daisies represent happiness and cheer. They do well in a sunny garden spot and come in a variety of colors.
• Plant an azalea for mom this year. This colorful blooming bush represents love, and is best in a semi-shady border. The cut blooms can also be found in bouquets.
• Pink, white, or lilac-toned roses are associated with mother’s love, and can be found in many bouquets. Despite their reputation as a fussy plant to grow, certain new hybrids and varieties are far more disease resistant than they used to be. For fragrance and old-fashioned multi-petal beauty, try the David Austin English roses (available online) in a sunny spot in the yard.
Several spring-blooming plants are associated with Mother’s Day, including the tulip, bluebells, and the summer-blooming day lily. Planting them in fall ensures that next year you can honor Mom in your yard, or she can appreciate the planting you did in hers.
Happy Mother’s Day!