Give mom a plant for her garden or patio that will attract bees or hummingbirds, provide summer shade, or turn into tasty treats
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Flowers, stunning outdoor containers and hanging baskets, richly perfumed flowering shrubs and fragrant herb gardens all make wonderful gifts for Mother’s Day, not only because of their beauty, but also by their connection to nature.
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One of the most satisfying pastimes in our gardens and patios is watching pollinators like bees and butterflies coming to our plants for nectar and pollen, so selecting baskets and containers that attract pollinators creates added value and enjoyment.
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Lavender has become so popular for those two reasons; both their beautiful perfume and the fact that they attract a wide range of pollinators. The hardy angustifolia lavenders are the best for our garden beds. But in containers on the deck or patio, the newer Spanish varieties, like Anouk, although not as winter hardy, will bloom all summer long and are a constant attractor. It’s nice to see them grown as a standard or small tree form that is very attractive, especially when underplanted with complementary annuals like lantanas, petunias, Angelonia, heliotrope and zinnias or perennials like nepeta, or beautiful, long-blooming Agastache or hyssop. All of these broaden the scope of pollinator attraction and add greater texture to your plantings.
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West Coast Table
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They are not in bloom just yet, but the many new varieties of non-invasive and highly perfumed buddleias are very attractive patio plants and draw so many pollinators, including our local butterfly species. It’s a pleasure to enjoy their constant perfume and fascinating to see the beneficial insects buddleias sustain. Some of the best new varieties are Proven Winner’s Pugster, Miss, and Lo & Behold series, and the great new Darwin Chrysalis series which has a wide range of colours. All are very compact, ideal in containers and beautifully perfumed.
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Attracting hummingbirds to our gardens and patios has become a huge event. There are many plants that help attract them: The narrow-tubed fuchsias, and perennial and annual blue salvias are good, but the best attractor is the hardy annual cuphea. This so-called cigar plant, with its long, narrow, orange tubes of nectar is the No. 1 hummingbird magnet, with Proven Winner’s variety called c. Vermillionaire being the most effective. I like to use them in hanging baskets, as well as in containers on the deck, for a constant attraction and food source.
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Shallow bird baths are a great gift for year-round enjoyment. They provide an important water source for both birds and pollinators. It’s nice to watch these garden visitors, but it’s important to keep the water shallow, and a little muddy for the safety of small species.
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If Mom has a primarily sunny deck or patio, one of the most welcome gifts is a reasonably good-sized container with a small tree that will live year-round. They not only help cool patios and decks in the summer heat but can also provide much needed screening and privacy.
