Five Great Gifts for Mother's Day

The perfect present requires thought and ingenuity rather than falling back on trite gifts like flowers and candy. No one can know your mother better than you, so use what you've learned about mom your entire life to pick that perfect gift. But there are some general principles to guide you: Choose what lasts over the fleeting. Flowers, candy and Sunday dinner will be gone by midweek, but a framed picture will last forever. The personal outpaces the generic. Any gift that signifies you remember mom's favorite color, a hobby, her birthstone or one of her accomplishments will pull hard at her heartstrings.

Don't get too clever. Shopping under deadline pressure can too often breed gift ideas that seem ingenious when you're at the mall an hour before you're due to pick mom up, but garner only polite smiles when they're opened. If the muse of the perfect gift still hasn't landed on your shoulder, consider one of these five great gift ideas: 1. Edible Arrangements ($65.00 & up). A terrific twist on the tired tradition of fresh cut flowers. Fruit, dipped in chocolate, cut and arranged to look like a bouquet.

Yes, it violates the first gift principle because it doesn't last, but the uniqueness of this gift more than compensates. They deliver throughout the United States, which makes this a particularly good choice when distance separates you from mom. 2. Home Spa Kit ($55.00). This gift puts the focus where it belongs - on your mother. Bath salts, body oils, an aromatherapy candle and CD of relaxing sounds gives mom the ingredients to pamper herself. No need to spend hundreds of dollars for a day at the spa - after all, it's the thought that counts. Free domestic shipping is also available. 3. Flowering Tea ($89.95). Not ready to deviate from the traditional flowers? Then compromise and get mom flowering tea. Her friends will be amazed when these wrapped tea balls steep and open into beautiful flowers inside the pot and make great tea. And, of course, she'll tell them it was a Mother's Day gift from her favorite child. 4. Canvas Painting ($119 & up). Imagine how impressive your mother's favorite photo would look if painted by one of the Renaissance masters. Choose a great photo moment and have an artist turn it into an oil painting. It won't be as valuable as an original Rafael, but your mother will cherish it just as much. 5. Indoor Herb Garden ($32.95). This is really three gifts in one - greenery for the house, herbs to cook with and an amazing palette of aromas. Buying herbs in the store is expensive and they don't keep long enough to stock. With her own herb garden, your mother will have a ready stock of natural flavor enhancers at her fingertips. This gift will be around for a long time and always remind her of you.