Celebrate & Remember Moms with Local Flowers

Here’s a little roundup of some flower-themed ideas to celebrate and remember your mom, mother-in-law or other special ladies in your life:

Flowers from your garden

Nothing tops a vase full of freshly picked flowers from your own garden. I try to bring my mom a bucket of flowers every time we visit and for Mother’s Day and I always try to make her something extra special. This year, I hope to take her a giant bouquet of lilacs, which are one of her favorite flowers. The window when lilacs bloom always seems so short and fleeting, which makes these fragrant flowers feel that much more meaningful.

One of my happiest memories as a young mom was getting wild, weedy bouquets that my kids picked just for me each Mother’s Day. Their adorable creations were usually a mix of too short dandelions, some weeds from the lawn and inevitably some of my prized flowers that were supposed to be off limits. The look of pride on their little faces when they brought me their sweet posies is something I’ll never forget. 

A bouquet or flower subscription from a local flower grower

If you don’t have a lot of flowers in your garden or if more than a few miles separate you from your mom, consider connecting with a local flower farm or floral designer in her area who specializes in seasonal blooms. A great place to find local flowers is via Floret’s Farmer-Florist Collective our online directory and map that now includes more than 1,000 members!

Many flower farms offer a bouquet subscription program, which is a wonderful way to shower your mom with flowers not just on Mother’s Day, but all summer long. Similar to a community supported agriculture (CSA) program offered by vegetable farmers, flower subscriptions provide a weekly “share” of the harvest. Subscriptions are typically weekly mixed bouquets. The rates and dates vary from farm to farm. For example, Arcola Trail Flower Farm  in Stillwater, Minnesota offers 10 week subscriptions, while Blühen Acres in Nichols, New York offers 4 and 6 week subscriptions.

Here are a few more bouquet subscription examples:

Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills, California offers single and double subscriptions of local, organic flowers as part of their bouquet CSA. 

Throughout the month of May, Wild Roots in Danville, Kentucky offers weekly bouquets of spring blooms including tulips, ranunculus and anemones.  

In Eugene, Oregon Petal Pink Flower Farm offers a summer bouquet subscription that begins in July and runs for eight weeks. Each subscription comes with a printable gift certificate that you can give on Mother’s Day. 

Forage + Design in Calgary, Canada offers three bouquet share options: a 4 week option that includes a bouquet every other week or a weekly bouquet for 8 or 12 weeks. Their bouquet shares run from mid-late June through the end of September.

Flower-themed gifts

Seeds and garden supplies are another great gift option. Over in the Floret Shop, we are offering two great Mother’s Day specials.

Enjoy 40% off all of our special Seed Collections. Packaged in a beautiful reusable gift tin, each Floret Seed Collection contains a curated selection of flowers and foliage grouped by gorgeous color palettes. Each collection will produce armloads of flowers and foliage to share and enjoy all season long. 

Receive 5 FREE packets of seeds with any Floret Farmer-Florist Toolbelt. These beautiful handmade leather toolbelts were custom designed for us by the incredibly talented leather artist Wheeler Munroe of Wheeler Munroe Leather Co. in North Carolina. Her thoughtful design and impeccable craftsmanship shine through in every detail. This belt is not only a tool, but also a keepsake that will serve you for many years to come. To make your Mother’s Day gift even sweeter, we’re tucking in 5 free packets of seeds with every order. Note: Free seeds can be shipped to U.S. addresses only.

These specials are available through May 7th or while our limited quantities last.

Flower events & experiences

Another idea that is gaining in popularity is local build your own bouquet “bars” and arranging classes with seasonal flowers.

Many Floret Workshop alumni now offer their own special flower-themed events, workshops and unique on-farm experiences. Here are some examples:

California

In Los Angeles, Mamabotanica Blooms, will be hosting a pop-up shop just in time for Mother’s Day at the delightful plant nursery and event space Fig Earth Supply. 

In Petaluma, Golden Rows Gardens, will have their honor-system farmstand where you can grab a lush, gorgeous bouquet for all of the mothers in your life.

In Sonoma, you can spend the afternoon surrounded by flowers at Chateau Sonoma as part of an exclusive floral class with Dundee Butcher, proprietor of Russian River Flowers. Tap into your creativity to design unique arrangements with seasonal flowers in Carter & Co. vases to take home and enjoy. 

Colorado

In Loveland, Blooming Betties will have homegrown made-to-order arrangements and bouquets available. In addition, they have weekly, biweekly and monthly Flower CSA Subscriptions available for purchase. They deliver within 30 miles for a small additional charge.

Connecticut

LunaBlooms will be a featured vendor at “Mamas and Mimosas” Mother’s Day event in Shelton, Connecticut where they will be offering hand tied bouquets as well as teacup flower arrangements. They also have a Flower Stand where they will be offering special Mother’s Day bouquets. 

In Ledyard, Full Heart Farm will be hosting farm tours and will have a “Build Your Own Bouquet Bar” set up in the barn on Saturday, May 11. Pre-made arrangements and wrapped bouquets will also be available.

Florida

In Orlando, FarmGal Flowers will be offering Fresh Botanical Jewelry Workshops for Mother’s Day at Harry P. Leu Gardens and East End Market. They will also return to Williams-Sonoma Winter Park for their annual Mother’s Day Pop-Up shop featuring locally grown bouquets. Learn more here.

Kentucky

In Bowling Green, Starry Fields Farm will have summer bouquet subscriptions for sale. On Saturday, May 11, they will also be offering a kids “Build-Your-Own Bouquet For Mom” at the Community Farmers Market on Nashville Road. Check them out on Instagram for more information.

In Winchester, Three Toads Farm is teaming up with Rockcastle River Trading Company, for their popular spring open house, May 10 – 11. They will host free workshops throughout the day, demonstrating new gardening tricks and showing how to grow amazingly productive cutting gardens in any space. Home-grown seedlings of specialty cut flowers and foliage will also be available for purchase.

Louisiana

Covington Bloomery Flower Farm and Studio will be offering wrapped bouquets for Mother’s Day at the Redoux Home + Market. 

Michigan

In Belleville, Piggly Petals Flower Farm  is offering CSA subscriptions for Mother’s Day and also selling fresh bouquets at the Saline and Cantons Farmers Market on Mother’s Day weekend.

Missouri

In Cassville, Gardenia LLC will have a Mother’s Day pop-up shop at Hungry Hollow Brew Co. on Saturday, May 4. Cut flowers, cut flower starts, succulent arrangements, hanging baskets and CSA shares will be available. 

North Carolina

In Franklinton, The Faraway Gardens will offer special Mother’s Day flower crowns, ranunculus and anemone bouquets and is taking preorders for Mother’s Day bouquets for pick up at the Wake Forest Farmers Market. 

New York

In Stuyvesant, Damsel Garden is offering fresh cut flowers and foliage plus subscription shares of buckets of flowers.

Ohio

In Lancaster, Bluegreen Gardens will be offering multiple sizes of spring vase arrangements for pre-order and pickup at the Lancaster Farmers Market. They will also have other items that make great gifts, including shares for their summer and fall bouquet subscription CSA, bouquet loyalty cards, gift cards and “Fun with Flowers” classes.

Pennsylvania

In Kimberton, Seven Stems Flowers, is offering a special Mother’s Day bundle which includes a CSA subscription plus a beautiful seasonal bouquet of locally and sustainably grown blooms.

South Carolina

In Columbia, Boone Fox Farm is offering a Bouquet Share (CSA) which begins the Wednesday after Mother’s Day and goes for 8 weeks. Special Mother’s Day bouquets are also available for pre-order. 

South Dakota

Pixie Acres in Castlewood is offering bouquet subscriptions, plus succulent tea cups and planters available for purchase.

In Sioux Falls, Floras & Bouquets will have a weekly and biweekly CSA flower subscription available as well as Mother’s Day tulip arrangements.

Texas

Petals,Ink in Austin will offer a Mother’s Day workshop at their farm in Grassdale on Saturday, May 11. Tickets include a mimosa, a bouquet of flowers for Mom, flower crafts, a stroll through the wildflowers and a petting zoo featuring baby animals by Tony Tails To You.

Vermont

In Brattleboro, Tanglebloom is partnering with Tavernier Chocolates for a spring celebration. Shop flowers and chocolates for Mom (or yourself!) while sipping festive bubbles and tasting seasonal chocolate creations at the lovely Tavernier Chocolates Factory Shop. Pre-order required for flower arrangements. 

Washington

Willow & Mabel Garden Co. in Poulsbo is teaming up with Ciderpress Lane to host two flower arranging workshops on May 18th. You will be able to choose from a wonderful selection of flowers from their flower bar and leave the workshop with a beautiful pedestal vase full of spring flowers. There will also be an opportunity to take a peek at the lambs on the farm.

Washington, D.C.

Little Acre Flowers will be offering special Mother’s Day bouquets of all shapes and sizes filled with the best local flowers sourced from the DC-MD-VA region. Their goal is to bring a more sustainable approach to floral sourcing and get local flowers into the everyday lives and homes of people around the region. They partner directly with local growers to source blooms because they’re committed to supporting the local community of hard-working flower farmers.

Wisconsin

Namekagon Valley Farm & Studio of Hayward will have tulips available at The Whistle Punk event in Stone Lake, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 11. Spring flowers also will be available regularly from The Stone Wreath in Stone Lake & at Titus Salon in Hayward.

INTERNATIONAL

While Mother’s Day in Australia falls on the same date as the United States, it’s the complete opposite season.

As Sarah O’Bryan from The Flower Press shared with me, “Down here it falls 2-3 weeks before winter, so Mother’s Day doesn’t really align with an abundance of cut flowers. Our Mothers Day coincides with a time where farmers are getting fields readied for the dormancy of winter, along with the preparation and promise of spring.” She shared a roundup of a few Australian flower offerings for Mother’s Day: 

Little Triffids Flowers in Wagga will be doing Mother’s Day gift bouquets using dried flowers as well as seasonal chrysanthemums. 

Peninsula Wild Flowers in Boneo, Victoria will be offering two Posey Making Workshops on the 11th: one at Jetty Road Brewery with lunch and bubbles, and one at The Green Olive at Red Hill followed by Farmers Lunch. 

The Flower Press is teaming up with Rose and Abraham to offer bulbs online and via a pop-up shop.

A few other international examples include:

August Tree Farm in Burlington, Ontario will be offering beautiful bouquets and flower subscriptions at the very first Milton Flower Market.

ACAJOU – Ecoflowers, in Brussels, Belgium is offering bouquets & subscriptions of organic local flowers. [email protected]

Are you celebrating Mother’s Day with local flowers this year? I’d love to know your plans or other local flower events nearby in your comments below.