At the moment, it’s difficult to get out and grab fresh bunches of flowers to spoil Mum – so, for a blooming brilliant Mother’s Day gift idea, why not pot up some flower seedlings now for maximum impact come Sunday 10 May.
Matt Leacy, co-founder of Landart Landscapes, offers his top tips on what to plant now for a stunning potted floral gift for Mum – or just to treat yourself.
Talk to your local nursery (online or by phone) about what they have in stock and what is suited to your area. In most instances, businesses have adapted to allow for online ordering and purchase, with an easy collection and/or delivery option.
Some of the easier-to-grow flowing stock Matt recommends include:
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime) are a low growing plant that has a lovely fragrance.
Calendula or pot marigold is another great one, and it’s probably an ingredient in some of Mum’s favourite skincare ranges as it has long been used as a healing herb for skin. Mum could also use the dried Calendula petals instead of saffron in cooking.
Pansies are another easy and pretty flower to grow, and they’ll withstand frosts if you’re in an area that is already starting to turn cold.
Cornflowers are a beautiful vibrant blue shade – which is a calming, peaceful colour – and are also edible and great for puffy eyes. They’re being used more and more in natural skincare, and are loved by bees.
Nasturtiums are a great one to give Mum if she’s been using her time in isolation to cultivate a veggie patch. They’re ideal to have near cucumbers or tomatoes to help deter pests and the leaves and flowers are edible – and look great in salads – plus they give a great vitamin C boost.
Petunias are an age-old favourite and are one of the easiest flowers to grow. You can go for a riot of colours, or colour code to Mum’s garden – you can never really go wrong with a mass of white flowers. And petunias will last for a few weeks indoors in a space that gets good natural light, making them much better value than a picked bunch of flowers.
Euphorbia ‘Diamond frost’ is one of the most hardy plants around and pretty much flowers all year round. It is an easy plant to love and grow.
Try potted cactus for a different, more architectural take on a traditional flower bunch or potted colour. Cactus are fast growing and easy to maintain, and will also live indoors in rooms that get great natural sunlight. They’re also ideal placed in stylish pots on decks or outdoor tables.
If you’re thinking of potting up plants, check out this nifty DIY project to create your own one-of-a-kind pots.
Practical gifts trump pampering
Staying connected, being house proud, and keeping healthy are the top considerations when it comes to gifts this Mother’s Day, according to a new report.
Supporting the latest Mother’s Day campaign #MultipleHatsMum and commissioned by family-owned Australian retailer Bing Lee, the ‘Bing Lee Multiple Hats Mum Report’ highlights that practical, not pampering, gifts are on trend this year.
The national survey found that almost a third (31%) of respondents believe that a new smartphone is a top gift this Mother’s Day, and over a quarter (26%) of mums surveyed confirmed a smartphone was their preferred present.
The report also found that close to a quarter (24%) of Australians believe mums would love to have a new white good appliance as a gift for Mother’s Day, followed by a food processor (22%) and exercise equipment (19%).
The Australian mums surveyed backed up the popularity of white good appliances, with one third (33%) saying they would love to have a new white good appliance, such as a washing machine, dryer or microwave in their home in the future. Additionally, almost three in 10 mums (29%) confirmed a robotic vacuum is on their wish list.
