Few Mother’s Day gifts are as thoughtful or beautiful as a bunch of carefully chosen blooms. Whether it's a simple posy or an extravagant bouquet, the giving of flowers expresses love, respect and appreciation.
The act of gifting flowers dates back to ancient times when the Romans would bestow armfuls of flowers upon their loved ones. The Victorians further popularised flower giving, using blooms to convey what words couldn’t.
Flowers have the power to delight and bring happiness for days so what better gift to give your mum this Mother’s Day?
From hand-tied posies and potted flowers to custom bouquets and everlasting sprays, here’s our lowdown on picking the best of the bunch.
March marks the beginning of spring and some of the most colourful and bouquet-worthy flowers are in season this month. Our favourite seasonal blooms include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, anemones and fragrant blossoms like cherry and plum.
Seasonal flowers are fresh, of excellent quality and offer great value since more are available. Ask a local florist to create a custom bouquet including seasonal favourites and striking foliage. If you’re feeling creative, you can construct a stunning bouquet by choosing a few bunches of supermarket blooms or picking fresh flowers from the garden and tying them with a thick ribbon.
If you prefer a traditional-style flower bunch, carnations, lilies and roses are perennial Mother’s Day bouquet favourites. Carnations, in particular, can last for up to two weeks.
For a longer-lasting floral gift, opt for potted plants like elegant orchids or choose an everlasting bouquet. Many florists create beautiful bouquets from dried flowers that can last for years. You can choose from natural or bright colours for a bouquet with a difference.
The art of floristry is ever-evolving and there are many creative flower arrangements to choose from. These are some of the most popular Mother’s Day designs:
Hand-tied bouquet - Different flowers are carefully arranged and tied together using string or ribbon. These arrangements are designed to be placed directly into a vase and make an ideal gift for busy Mums. If you love a bit of DIY, these stylish yet simple bouquets are easy to make yourself.
Basket bouquet - A more traditional option, a selection of flowers is arranged in a wicker basket to create an attractive and rustic gift.
Presentation bouquet - These impressive-looking bouquets are made from longer-stemmed flowers and are designed to make a statement. The flowers are laid flat and wrapped in cellophane so all the flowers are on show, they can then be unwrapped and arranged in a vase.
Floral wreath - Flower wreaths or garlands make a more unusual but no less beautiful Mother’s Day gift. You can choose from a range of designs including full or half wreaths and opt for fresh or dried flowers.
Mother’s Day flowers are often soft pastel shades of pink, yellow, purple and white. These colours represent love, happiness and admiration and are guaranteed to bring joy to the recipient.
Spring also offers the opportunity to include bolder, more vivid colours. Stronger shades of yellow, red, orange, pink and blue make striking additions to bouquets.
Fresh flowers are favoured for their unique beauty and scents but even the most expensive cut flowers won’t last forever. Luckily, there are a few clever tricks that you can employ to extend the life of your Mother’s Day flowers:
Cut the stems at an angle - Cutting flower stems at an angle might seem strange but it creates a larger surface area for the flowers to absorb water.
Change the water often - This will keep the water clean and avoid the build-up of bacteria and unpleasant smells.
Remove extra leaves - Removing any leaves that fall below the water line will help keep the water clean. Submerged leaves tend to go slimy and discolour the water.
Feed them - All fresh flowers will benefit from a nutrient boost. Most cut flowers come with a sachet of flower food but you can make your own with sugar and apple cider vinegar.
Add a water preservative - Adding half a sterilising tablet, a teaspoon of baking soda or a little bleach to the water can help to prevent the build-up of bacteria.
Keep them cool - fresh flowers love to be cool so keep them away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
Fix the flop - This is a brilliant blanching technique for reviving floppy Mother’s Day flowers. Take an inch off the flower stems and plunge them into boiling water for up to a minute, depending on the stem type. Then dunk the stems into cool water.
Flowers are undoubtedly one of the best Mother’s Day gifts, add a welcome little extra by choosing a gorgeous vase to accompany the flowers.
Hand-written cards offer a personal touch, especially when they’re attached to a glorious display of flowers.
You could also include some flower seeds with the bouquet. March is a great time to sow cut flower seeds which will bring joy throughout the summer months.
Every special Mum deserves to be spoilt on Mother’s Day. Treat your Mum to a delicious three-course Mother’s Day lunch in the relaxing surroundings of our award-winning, lakeside Orangery Restaurant for an unforgettable fine dining experience.
Our head chef uses fresh, locally sourced, seasonal produce to create exquisite dishes that will tantalise your tastebuds. Click here to book your table, we look forward to welcoming you.
