Ask the Gardener: A Mother’s Day present: Stop and smell the flowers
Here are some great ways to share your love of blooms, gardens, and family.
One of my earliest memories of a garden occurred in northern Germany at the home of my maternal grandmother, Renate. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she invited me to join her on a “schneckenjagd” or slug hunt, a summer evening routine where the two of us, armed with trowels, a metal pail, and flashlights, stalked the garden beds for shimmery quarry.
I remember a feeling of satisfied accomplishment when the bucket was emptied into the compost pile, knowing the garden was safe, for at least that night, from marauding mollusks. Renate also introduced me to the joys of red currants and gooseberries, two impossibly tart fruits to my young taste buds, magically transformed into the most delicious jam I had ever tasted.
My mother, Freia, exposed me to the sweet abandon of eating nectar from honeysuckle blossoms, to the intoxicating scent of lily of the valley, and to the nearly Sisyphean task of raking sweetgum fruits from the lawn in autumn. I met the mother of my children while working at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden 19 years ago. All three of these strong women have imparted experience, wisdom, and a love for the natural world that has shaped and informed my career path.
As I gain a bit more life experience every year, I grow increasingly grateful for those early memories and the effect they have had on me. For that, I am deeply thankful. It is no wonder that Mother’s Day is so closely associated with flowers, the spring season, and gardens. The very act of caring for plants is a nurturing, fulfilling, and compassionate activity. Here are some great ways to share your love of flowers, gardens, and family.
Flowers are a symbol of love and appreciation, a language unto themselves. Learn to speak that language at the many garden destinations throughout Greater Boston. Celebrate the joys of youth as embodied at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston and its world-famous lilac collection. Boasting 173 different kinds of lilacs, totaling more than 400 shrubs, you will be awash in pastel colors and adrift in the delirious fragrance of this stunning garden. Be sure to wander the rest of the arboretum grounds to take in the splendors of this iconic Boston garden.
The historic Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge is offering a Memories of Mothers guided tour with knowledgable docents, highlighting the symbols of motherhood on monuments. The towering trees and peaceful space at Mount Auburn are truly special.
The Heritage Museum & Gardens is opening for the season this weekend and offering mothers free admission on Sunday. These gardens feature an amazing collection of rhododendrons and hydrangeas, well worth the trip to Sandwich.
For our Maine-based readers, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay is offering free admission to all moms this weekend, too. The native butterfly house, award-winning children’s garden, and garden troll exhibit are sure to delight.
For our Metrowest families, I can recommend the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston. The apple orchard will be in full bloom, and the conservatories feature stunning collections of tropical plants, including sumptuous orchids. There is so much to discover!
Lastly, consider bringing the family to Native Plant Trust’s Garden in the Woods in Framingham. Easy walking trails will welcome you throughout our 45 acres as you take in the fresh new leaves on the trees and the carpets of native spring wildflowers, all while being serenaded by songbirds.
Wherever you spend this weekend, I hope you spend it with family and friends, in honor of the women in your lives, celebrating life, love, and mother nature.
Ulrich Lorimer is the director of horticulture at the Native Plant Trust in Framingham. Send your gardening questions, along with your name/initials and hometown, to [email protected] for possible publication. Some questions are edited for clarity.
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