Mother's Day gives flowery gifts
Diane Kenley
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Entertainment
|
Annual flowering plants make beautiful gifts for mom that last all spring. Whether choosing a hanging basket or bedding packs to plant, key factors to remember are the light conditions in mom's garden and her green thumb abilities.
If mom has a sunny spot, howstuffworks.com suggests a hardy flower that can take the sun, like petunias, zinnias, geraniums, marigolds, pansies, and some begonias.
The most common colors of all flowers mentioned are reds, pinks and white. Any additional colors are listed.
Petunias, zinnias and geraniums have large blooms and handle full sun the best, says wilsonbrosnursery.com.
With trumpet-shaped blooms, petunias have the widest range in color including purples, yellows and even blues, a rare find in live flowers. Zinnias resemble small daisies and also come in yellows and oranges. Geraniums grow clumps of blooms on taller stalks.
Abby Deibel, assistant manager of Flowerama in Florissant, recommends gerbera daisies, with large, cheery blooms, also available in yellow and orange.
But if mom likes yellow and orange, marigolds are a great pick available only in those shades. Be aware of the strong scent though, says Deibel.
If feeling indecisive, Deibel suggests a color bowl, which contains a mixture of flower types and colors for sun, no planting required.
Needing partial shade, pansies can look like little faces, and also come in yellows, purples, and blues. Wilsonbrosnursery.com says, "Bronzeleaf" (dark leaf) and "Dragonwing" (wing-like leaf) begonias are also partial shade choices.
If mom plants in full shade, impatiens work well, with a wide color selection including corals and oranges, says wilsonbrosnursery.com.
For an exotic look, try New Guinea impatiens-one of the best sellers from last year, Deibel says-with larger blooms and tropical leaves.
Greenleaf (light leaf) or Tuberous (rose-like) begonias do better in shade, and Tuberous also come in yellow and orange, according to wilsonbrosnursery.com.
Lobelia is a full shade option with small flowers, says gardenguides.com, and comes in the uncommon dark blue.
If mom has more of a black thumb than a green one, a fresh cut flower vase is an alternative to plants. With luck, Deibel says, cut flowers can last about a week.
Another low maintenance idea is cacti, only needing water about once a month, and they can be found in unique rock terrariums for display inside, says Deibel.
Any local florist or garden center should carry annuals and be able to help with selection.
To contact Flowerama in Florissant, or the other two St. Louis locations, visit floweramastlouis.com or call 314-837-3250.
Be the first to comment on this story