Go Native This Mother's Day!

Mother’s Day is almost upon us, and judging by the bustling business of my local nursery this morning, the hunt for the right flowers for Mom is well underway.  As you look through the many beautiful floral options, consider buying species native to your area. 

For those of us in Pennsylvania, the Penn State Agricultural Extension offers some excellent resources on their site to help you track down which native plants will do best in which soil types.  I’m a fan of perennials, and Bee Balm, Black-eye Susan, and Narrow-leaved Sunflowers are all in various stages of maturity in my backyard.  The Bee Balm is one of my favorites as it has so many uses (tea, salads, and as an actual balm to help sooth bee stings!)  Besides all that, it grows quite nicely with my strawberries. 


If you are more adventurous type, you might try buying Mom some edible flowers so she has a snack along with her pretty bouquet!  Be sure you consult a guide book or recipe book, however, with detailed pictures and assure you buy the flowers from a source where you can be certain they haven’t been sprayed with any harmful pesticides.  

Happy Mother’s Day!