Instead of your go-to Mother’s Day flowers, give mom something that’ll last longer than a few days. And no, we’re not talking mugs or pictures (though moms love those, too). Plant and flower subscriptions are a great way to keep mom feeling special all year. Flowers and plants will give the house some life, and there are options out there for everyone from a beginning gardener to a plant lady pro.
To help you decide which one is perfect for your mother figure, check out our curated list of plants and blooms that are ready for delivery. There are options with different degrees of care, so even if the mom in your life doesn’t have the quintessential green thumb, she can still easily keep them looking their best. And bonus! Many of these Mother’s Day flowers and plants come with pretty pots and planters, so she won’t even need to repot them later. Take a look at all these stunning colors, too. See them all below.
The Bouqs Co. Subscription
The Bouqs Co. is a go-to for us, thanks to their stunning blooms that stay fresher longer because they're shipped directly from eco-friendly farms. With The Bouqs Co. subscription, mom gets a bouquet of gorgeous flowers every month, and you can customize your plan to bet fit her (and you never pay for shipping on subscriptions, saving you $25 off the bat!).
You can't go wrong with a plant subscription from Lively Root. Mom doesn't even have to have an especially green thumb to love this one either. Select from different subscription options like the Easy Care Plant Subscription, Pet-Friendly Plant Subscription, and more. Every 3 months, a new plant arrives with care instructions, so she can enjoy their new greens easily.
Each box from Plant In The Box includes a small to medium-sized plant, virtual care card, and free shipping with their 'Arrive Safe Guarantee.' Choose from 3 subscription options: the Bloomer Box with easy to care for houseplants, the Fur-Friendly Box for households with curious pets, and the Majestic Marvels Box for those who like rare finds!
Good things come in small packages? With the Baby Mystery Jungle Box from Rooted, that's absolutely true. These adorable little baby plants are extra-small, so they're great for the office, window ledge, or other small spaces!
The Herb Garden Subscription from Gardenuity comes with a hand stitched grow bag, custom blended soil, and nutrients, plus three seasons of fully-rooted plants. Mom gets 3 seasonal deliveries, creating a year of herb harvesting! And not to worry; Gardenuity analyzes your location and customizes an assortment of herbs specific to your climate.
The Sill's plants are sourced from local growers to ensure their quality and to support family-owned businesses (we sure do love that!). They also guarantee your plants arrive in happy, healthy condition, or they replace them for free. Your subscription includes a curated plant, a chic ceramic planter, and instructions. Pick from a 3 or 6 month subscription gift, and from 3 different box options: Easy-Care, Orchids, or Pet Friendly.
Farmgirl Flowers offers a flower subscription service for their signature gorgeous burlap-wrapped flower bouquets and David Austin roses arrangements. Choose from weekly, biweekly, or monthly. When you “Make It A Recurring Delivery", you can select your delivery start and date and how often you’d like your flower subscription to deliver!
The Horti Plant Subscription Box is created to take you through different layers of plant care! Not only do recipients get beautiful plants monthly, but you actually learn how to take care of them, so you'll become a better plant parent. Every level of plant-care experience is covered here!
It's hard not to drool over FLOWERBX's offerings. Their subscriptions include options for weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly deliveries of their beautiful flowers—including Snapdragons, Avalanche Roses, Dutch Tulips, Peonies, and so many more—so mom's Instagram will be a whole garden of flower pics (who could blame her?).
Seasonal, sustainably sourced bouquets sent from Bloomsy's eco-friendly farms straight to mom's door. Just choose your size and subscription type—including Tropical, Hydrangea, Roses, and more!—and they take care of the rest. Monthly, weekly, and exclusive plans are all available!
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Finding games to play with grandparents is a lot easier than you might think
Spending time with grandparents is often full of laughter, love, and a little too much sugar. But even a spry and creative nana or papa could use a few ideas now and again. From card games to photo book exploration, here are some games to play with grandparents that span ages and offer mellow afternoon fun.
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1. Dealer’s choice. Your little card shark will love cleaning up at Go Fish, but she might also enjoy learning some other old-school games. Grandparents can choose from their favorites: Spoons, Crazy Eights, War, and Rummy are all winners!
2. On the record. Kids of all ages love to ask questions, so let them satisfy their curiosity by interviewing Gram and Pops. Questions might range from, “What is your favorite dinosaur?” to “Tell me about your first date.” This list is a great start!
3. Strike a chord. If either grandparent has a talent for a particular instrument, encourage them to share that skill with the kids! Whether it’s a formal piano lesson or a chance to simply explore and bang on the drums (or strum a guitar or toot a horn), they’re sure to make a joyful noise.
4. Crack open a book. A pile of picture books (or one riveting chapter book) and a comfy couch are the makings of a perfect day. Make a trip out of it by going to the library, or let the kids show off their collection and pick out books they think their grandparents will enjoy, too.
5. Freeze time. To memorialize special or long visits with grandparents, collect mementos of your time together to make a time capsule—think photographs, ticket stubs, drawings, and puzzle pieces.
6. (Grand)mother, May I? While running around outside might be a bit too exhausting for a few grandparents, several classic yard games need at least one participant who needs to stand relatively still. Some of our favorites include Mother May I; Red Light, Green Light; Simon Says; and all kinds of hand clap games.
7. Put the pieces together. Take over the dining room table, and clock in a few hours of peaceful silence (or happy chatter) by putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You can dust off something you have on hand, or grandpa and the kids can go out and choose something together.
8. Get cookin’. If both your tykes and their elders like to cook, let them team up in the kitchen and whip up a favorite family recipe. They can even read Baking Day at Grandma’s together for extra fun! We even have cooking games that are perfect games to play with grandparents.
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9. Tea for two (or three or five). Raid grandma’s closet, break out the good plates, and cut sandwiches into triangles—voilà! Grandparents will love being served a cuppa and will likely appreciate the opportunity to reinforce gracious table manners.
10. Go for a walk. Even if there’s no summer sun calling your name, nature walks are fun during any season. Have the kids put on some comfortable shoes and a hat, and they can hold grandma’s hand while exploring a new trail or give her a “tour” of the neighborhood.
11. Hunt for treasure. One part riddle, one part hide and seek, an indoor treasure or scavenger hunt will delight grandkids (and grandparents) of all ages.
12. Plant memories—in a terrarium! With a simple glass bowl, soil, rocks, a few plants, and (our favorite part) a few of those tiny plastic dinosaurs that inhabit every corner of your home, grandparents will love helping their grandkids create a habitat for their most fearsome friends.
13. Play "Guess Who?" Bust out the photo albums and play a round of "guess who?" where the grandchildren try to guess who family members are from older pictures. This is a great way to connect kids with people they haven't met and remind them we were all young once!
14. Plan an imaginary trip. Research a place you would like to go, even if it's a place like Hogwarts or a faraway country like Antarctica. Use a globe or even google maps to find the country; find books about the place or look it up together; create a packing list; plan an itinerary; and write postcards. This can be an ongoing project.
15. Speaking of scenarios... This one is great because it requires nothing other than two or more imaginations. You can sit on the couch, and if a grandparent is less mobile, they can 100% participate. All you do is create a "scenario": We're all on a baking show, the theme is [blank] and there are three rounds: cupcake, candy, and cake. What will you make? Another example: We're all on a rocketship heading to [planet name]. Talk about your astronaut names, where you went to school, how long it takes to get there, what your jobs are on the spaceship, and what you see out the window. What happens when you land? Do you discover a species? Is it cold?
Are you searching for the best gifts and science toys for your favorite curious kiddo? Well, get ready to check off your list with this awesome gift guide that will have every child from tot to teen exploring the fascinating world of science through hands-on experiments in chemistry, engineering and more. Scroll down to see our top picks!
Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit
With beakers, goggles, experiment cards, stickers and plenty of other supplies, your curious kid will be whipping up experiments just like their favorite scientist in no time.
Discover the journey from plate to tummy and beyond! Kids will get up-close and personal with their bodily functions, prompting creativity and self-discovery.
Renowned illustrator Lisa Congdon gives kids a treat with this stunning book about the Periodic Table (of course) that's also filled with interesting tidbits about scientists and much more.
Your kiddos are probably not old enough to drive a car yet, but they’ll have just as much fun building and designing their own real working solar-powered model car!
Your child’s coding magic spells will come to life as Blazer the Dragon lights up, chases a ball and more. The best part? There are no screens to be found with this science toy.
Another amazing science toy for the tots! Watch your child learn about engineering and physics while building pulleys, levers, and more on their very own scientific workbench.
Nancy B's Science Club Garbage to Gardens Compost Kit
Teaching kids about the environment and how we can make better choices is made easy in this clear kit that will allow everyone to see just how nature handles all that trash!
Give your child a first-row seat to all the action that happens after a seed is planted. Kids will learn about the different stages while they observe and track the growth of their plants.
Kids of all ages love bubbles. And now they can learn how bubbles work, all about the different shapes and even make an unbreakable bubble in this fun kit!
Enjoy the fascinating stages of butterflies from caterpillar to adult. Can’t find any caterpillars? No problem! The kit includes a voucher so you can have them shipped to your home.
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There are plant people and then, there’s everyone else. From houseplants to succulents to botanical bling, these gifts for gardeners and plant lovers alike will be sure to make their fellow plant nerds green with envy.
Mini terrariums are old news: micro terrariums are where it's really at. This tiny set comes with real moss, soil, stone, and clay in a glass micro terrarium.
Based on the creations of eighteenth-century British botanical artist Mary Delany, each piece features scientifically accurate recreations of flowers including rhododendrons, water lilies, sunflowers and more. 12 cards and envelopes per set.
If you want to pick out the perfect plant in person, Wild Interiors is your go-to. They are stocked at dozens of stores around the country and offer pet-friendly, low-maintenance and low-sunlight options, among others.
Not only will these look adorbs on your couch or bed, for every purchase made the Green Philosophy Co. they've partnered with Trees for the Future, a nonprofit aimed at ending hunger and poverty by helping farmers across Africa plant trees and regenerate their land. For every product sold, Green Philosophy Co is helping plant trees: so it's an epic win-win for any plant lover.
Every gardener needs a pair of sturdy-but-stylish books for tromping around botanical gardens and muddy garden beds alike. We love these shiny red classics, that stand out in a sea of green.
Give the gift of green this holiday. The self-watering Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden is not only a great way to bring life into an indoor space, but you can also choose between Organic Geneovese Basil, Organic Cilantro, Non-GMO Common Mint, Organic Greek Oregano, Organic Flat Leaf Parsley and Organic Sage when purchasing.
Say goodbye to ugly plastic watering cans and say hello to this chic one instead. We love the fact that it's made of galvanized metal to prevent rusting and that you can leave it out after your chores are done!
Who’s ready for some deadly decor? After navigating the hot summer, we are ready to welcome fall and these faux succulents from Target are just the ticket.
The Hyde and Eek! Boutique has just launched tons of ghoulish garnishes that start at just $5 that showcase spooky succulents and dreadful daisies. You can already start shopping the collection now at target.com.
If you’re an ALDI fan, you probably know about the company’s Monthly Finds! There are some real gems this month, including a new batch of cheap houseplants, an adorable cactus LED lamp, a s’mores cookie kit and pulled pork chips!
Starting July 28, you can snag a cute little aloe vera plant for $3.99. A new batch of mini succulents will drop on August 11 for $1.99. And an adorable geometric terrarium is coming your way on August 25 for $13.99.
If you kill any plant you lay eyes on, there’s another fun decor option this month. The LED novelty lamp features a glowing saguaro cactus for $8.99. Perfect for dorm room decorating or a WFH glow up!
You’ll remember the S’more Cookie Kit we’ve covered and it’s finally available to buy on August 25! There are a lot of intriguing food finds for the upcoming month, but we’re especially interested in the Pulled Pork Kettle Chips that come out August 25. They’re krinkle cut and gluten free!
Easter is just around the corner, and while parents are typically planning Easter egg hunts, family gatherings and other festivities surrounding the holiday, the sudden rise of Coronavirus has families across the nation altering their Easter plans and traditions this year. Celebrating a holiday during a pandemic is something that most have never experienced before, and as parents, how can we make sure Easter is fun and memorable for our children aside from the threats of COVID-19?
Despite the unforeseen circumstances, Easter 2020 can still be an exciting and memorable holiday for kids. With a few unique and creative twists on age-old Easter traditions, parents can turn this holiday into an exciting learning experience. Below are a few ideas for parents to make this holiday fun and educational for their children who are stuck in quarantine.
Get Crafty
Crafting is a fun way to spend some extra time with your children during the holidays, as well as a fantastic way to keep them busy and entertained. Websites and blogs like Yowie World are providing fun Easter craft ideas that will have inspired you to make something adorable with your little ones this year. For example, Easter-themed origami and Easter animal egg holders are simple crafts with directions, using things you most likely already have around the house.
Put an Educational Twist on Easter Baskets
As parents, we love to make learning fun. This year try creating a DIY, themed Easter basket filled with learning tools that help educate your children about a specific topic. For example, you can teach your kids about the wonders of the natural world by purchasing a reusable basket and filling it with educational books about nature, such as National Geographic for Kids, a DIY terrarium kit, animal puzzles and printable activity books. The best part about a themed gift basket is that they provide opportunities to bond and connect with your children, all while providing a fun and educational experience.
Throw an At-Home Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt
Get your children thinking with a unique take on the traditional Easter egg hunt. Instead of planting eggs in random places for kids to find, strategically place the eggs throughout the yard or home in a scavenger hunt style, with clues on where to find the next egg, ultimately leading to a prize, such as an Easter basket or assortment of treats.
Research Easter Traditions across the World
Do a quick internet search on Easter traditions across the globe and find one to replicate. For example, decorate your own Easter bonnet for a mini-parade, as practiced in Australia and the United Kingdom. Or, try making an enormous Easter omelet like the residents of Haux, France. Flying a kite is also a fun tradition in Bermuda to celebrate the Easter holiday.
Even though Easter gatherings with family and friends may be limited this year and schools are shut down to avoid the spread of Coronavirus, there are always ways to keep your children happy and engaged in learning during these uncertain times. With a little creativity and the ideas mentioned above, this Easter will be a unique and wonderful experience that your kids will remember for years to come.
Cynthia Thayer is the Global Chief Marketing Officer of Yowie Group. She has over 25 years of marketing expertise in key areas including brand architecture development, market research, consumer packaged goods advertising across traditional and digital channels, retail and shopper marketing, licensing, toy design and new product development.
ALDI knows what we like and we like succulents! The selections keep getting better and better. Beginning Aug. 26 ALDI will be selling these stunning Geometric Terrariums filled with succulents. Since these are a weekly find they will only be available for a limited time.
Each terrarium features an assorted variety of succulents. These would look lovely displayed on the patio, in the bedroom or on a desk. They also would make a great housewarming gift.
If you’ve got the kind of green thumb that makes most houseplants go extinct, we’ve got your solution right here! A small-scaled terrarium that’s home to dinosaurs! It’s easy to make, hard to kill and brought to you by horticulturist Katie Elzer-Peters. Read on to find out how toDIY a fairy-sized and kid-friendly version of Jurassic Park.
Supplies: Glass container (mason jar works)
Small low-light pants (i.e. table ferns, polka dot plants, Selaginella, Croton, Alternanthera, and Ficus plants)
Few cups of sterilized seedling mix or potting soil
Reindeer moss
Activated charcoal
Dinosaur figurines
Good to Know: Enclosed terrariums need a little light for the plants to grow and keep the water cycle going. Otherwise, plants will rot. If you can see condensation inside of the glass, then the terrarium is getting enough light. If the plants start to rot or become mushy, open the cover and let it dry out for a week or so. It may take a while to find the right balance of water for the terrarium to reach equilibrium.
Step by Step:
1. Fill the bottom of the container with ½ to 1 inch of rocks.
2. Pour activated charcoal on top of the rocks until the rocks are barely covered by the charcoal.
3. Add the potting mix on top of the charcoal. Start with 1 inch of potting mix. This doesn’t seem like much, but it is easier to start with a little, than it is to add more potting mix and dig holes.
4. Place the plants. If you’re using accessories, such as the dinosaur, you can set them in among the plants to gauge the effect see if you want to move the plants around prior to planting.
5. Remove plants from pots and plant them. The bottom of the plant root balls can be touching the rocks. Use a spoon to fill in with soil around the plants.
6. Add decorative mulches such as preserved reindeer moss or tumbled stones.
7. Position the accessories.
8. Water the terrarium. This is the trickiest step. It’s easy to overwater and then difficult to get the terrarium to dry out. Start by watering so that the top inch of soil (which might, in this case, be all of the soil) is about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. You can always add water.
9. Place the cover on the terrarium, set it in bright indirect light, and enjoy.
Even in such a small terrarium, you can make separate little scenes. Ideally, you’ll use accessories to make the terrarium interesting and inviting from all sides.
Katie Elzer-Peters is a horticulturist and author of gardening books, blogs, and articles. She also teaches classes and runs workshops dedicated to gardening and garden writing in Wilmington, North Carolina. Her guide to making “fairy + mini” gardens can be pre-ordered here on Amazon.
Whether it’s the change of season or just a space issue, you don’t have to have a huge plot of land to be a gardener. From dinosaur terrariums to a magnetic wall garden, we’ve got eight great ways for kids to get their hands (kinda) dirty. Read on for the details.
1. Make a Dinosaur Terrarium Brought to you by horticulturist Katie Elzer-Peters, this fairy-sized and kid-friendly version of Jurassic Park makes an excellent indoor project. Click here for the full instructions.
photo: Erin Lem
2. Paper White Bulbs in a Mason Jar Soil free (say goodbye to itsy-bitsy pieces of dirt) and is easy as 1-2-3, this easy gardening project only requires three materials. In fact, it literally only takes three steps to finish up! Get our tutorial here.photo:
3. Terrarium Wall Garden Add a little green on your walls with this neat magnetic terrarium. This project by DIY blog Ruffled is extremely easy to maintain, which is great if your planter is forgetful when it comes to watering their leafy family member. Shimmy over to Ruffled for the 411.
4. Re-Growing Vegetables from Scraps Watch your peanut’s eye grow in amazement as you show them how vegetables scraps can produce fully fledged, edible plants. Stay at home mom and blogger, Erica of What We Do All Day, had a race with her kids to see which grew the fastest. Check it out here.
5. DIY Zen Garden Grab a container, sand, rocks from the park and a tiny rake to make a relaxing Japanese garden. Your toddler will have a blast making soothing shapes and marks in the sand. Check out this tutorial from art blog Paintspiration Art.
6. Decorate a Mini-Greenhouse Let your artist go to town with a little interior and exterior design with their own mini greenhouse. This clear home from IKEA provides the perfect environment for seeds to sprout without trekking dirt onto your carpet. Crafty blogger Tania of Run to Radiance turned hers into a royal golden home, which you can see here. Available at ikea.com, $19.99.
7. Wheat Grass Egg Planter Bring a little spring into your home and into your early riser’s step with these wheat grass egg planters. Green shoots will come up within three days, and if your tot is feeling adventurous, juice your results! Check out the full tutorial over at Gardenista.