Mother's Day Gifts to Charm the Gardening Mother

Going green is becoming a new way of life, and gardening is part of going green. How can you honor mom on Mother's Day while going green? Here are some gift suggestions to fit just about any price range.

For gardeners with a small space to work in, or beginning gardeners, you can give the gift of an herb garden. Seeds for herbs or herb plants are available at any place that sells gardening supplies or plants. Some basic herbs and spices are parsley, basil, oregano and thyme.

To make the gift a little more special, put the herbs in some terra cotta pots. The pots can be personalized by painting them mom's favorite color, or paint them to match mom's hobbies or interests, or even some garden plants on them.

Whether mom is a beginning gardener or a long time gardener, a gift of good gardening tools is always welcome. A good pair of gardening gloves is essential. Look for gloves that have leather on the palms to protect against thorns or thistles. A variety of tools are used in the garden; some with short handles and some with long handles. A trowel is a shovel with a short handle usually used for planting small plants or bulbs. Shovels with various length handles can be used by every gardener. A collection of hoes and rakes are useful as well. If mom has a compost pile, a good pitch fork will make turning the compost pile much easier.

Weeding is one of the most time consuming and back breaking jobs in gardening. There are several things you can do to help ease mom's pain. The simplest thing is a padded cushion to kneel on while weeding. These are readily available and inexpensive. A combination bench and kneeler can make relive pain on mom's knees and her back. It can be used as a kneeler when needed or as a bench.

A potting table or bench can be a valuable tool for any gardener. In addition to a place to pot plants, work on seedlings, or dividing plants, it can also be used to store extra soil or gardening tools. Similar to a work bench, it allows mom to work at a height that is more comfortable than being bent over.

If you want to give mom a chance to relax and enjoy her garden, give her some decorative items such as a gazing ball, a trellis, or a fireplace or fire pit and a bench so that she can sit and admire the fruits of her labor.

To help protect mom while she's gardening, you can give her a gift of some of the essentials. A hat to protect her from the sun, sunglasses, sunscreen and gardening shoes will protect her from the elements and can add some whimsy to her day.

A trip to the gardening store can give you ideas on how to surprise mom with some plants, shrubs or trees that can enhance her garden or yard. A tree like a flowering crab apple, honeysuckle or a lilac can add color, flowers, and a wonderful scent to the yard. Talk to the staff at the gardening center to find the right plants to enhance the garden, or attract birds or butterflies to mom's yard.

To reward mom for all her hard work, and to pamper her hands, a gift basket with scented soap, lotion, and a nail brush may be just the little luxury she needs. A gift certificate for a manicure is a great indulgence after a long day of working in the garden.

To work out all the sore muscles and pains, a massage would be welcome by just about any mom. Find a massage therapist or a day spa in your area and treat mom to a day of relaxation where someone else takes care of her.

Whatever level of gardener mom is, a gift that lets her dig in the earth will bring excitement to Mother's Day. After all, we don't call it Mother Earth for nothing.