8 perfect gardening gifts for Mother's Day

Your mother nurtured you while you grew, and with Mother’s Day coming up on May 11, it’s the perfect time to return the favor. These gifts are sure to help her grow her love of gardening and the great outdoors.

A Year of Flowers Boxed Set

This set of unique note cards from FreshCut Paper features coordinating 3D floral arrangements with a matte, soft-touch finish. Each card and bouquet pair comes with a decorative envelope and folds flat for easy mailing. The set includes a dozen 6.72 “x5.75” x2” designs (Orchid Oasis, French Poppies, Cherry Blossoms, English Daffodils, Festive Tulips Butterflies & Buttercups, Lilies & Lupines, Nantucket Hydrangeas, Peony Paradise, Serenity Orchid and Winter Joy) in a sturdy box with a magnetic closure and satin ribbon. Gift a single bouquet or the entire box. $79; MORE INFO: https://www.freshcutpaper.com/products/year-of-flowers-mini-boxed-set

Grampa’s Garden Apron

This ingenious, adjustable, cross-back apron features waterproof pockets to hold tools, a cell phone and other gadgets, and a large kangaroo pouch for stashing weeds or harvested produce. When full, the kangaroo pouch is easily emptied via a buckle-secured escape hatch at its bottom. The apron is also machine washable and designed to distribute pouch contents evenly throughout the upper body for optimal comfort. Choose from blue, green, red or yellow. $34.99; MORE INFO: https://grampasweeder.com/products/grampas-garden-apron-adjustable-gardening-apron-with-pockets-for-women-men-great-for-harvesting-weeding

Thistle Butterfly Puddler

Butterflies nourish themselves with water from puddles that contains the essential minerals and salts they require. If you’d like to lure them to your garden, set out this handmade, thistle-design stoneware puddling station. Just fill its recycled-glass-lined well with a teaspoon of water and the included sand (or rock salt). Within a day, butterflies will be attracted to the crystallized evaporated minerals left behind. Measuring 8.5 inches  x 8.5 inches, the 3-pound, 6-ounce  triangular puddler is designed to resist fading and cracking, even after extended exposure to sunlight or snow. $45; MORE INFO: https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/thistle-butterfly-puddler

BirdyBox Sound Machine

Bring the outdoors in with this motion-activated, nature-inspired sound machine. When you walk past, the minimalist, birdhouse-shaped speaker with “Feel Sound” technology will fill your room with a 2-minute recording of songbirds in Germany’s Black Forest. The German-made device also has adjustable volume and is available in 13 finishes. Measures 5.7 inches x 4.3 inches x 1.4 inches and requires 3 AA batteries (included). $54.99-64.99; MORE INFO: https://www.relaxound.com/us/birdybox

Spikeball Weekender Set

Introduced to the world on Shark Tank in 2015, Spikeball has grown in popularity despite having its funding deal from the TV show fall through. Play is simple, with two teams of two players rallying a ball back and forth while positioned on either side of a round, trampoline-like net. What began as a backyard game has since given rise to competitive leagues and intramural teams at schools around the US. Will it become the next pickleball? We don’t know, but we do know it’s a lot of fun at picnics, cookouts, the beach and in the garden. Includes an easy-to-assemble standing net, two balls and a carrying case. $69.99: MORE INFO: https://spikeball.com/products/spikeball-weekender-kit

Light Bio Firefly Petunias

What happens when scientists genetically engineer a petunia with DNA from a bioluminescent mushroom? You get the world's first commercially available, glow-in-the-dark plant. Named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2024, the white-flowered Firefly, which glows without chemicals, is available to home gardeners for the first time this year via Costa Farms. Grow it in pots, hanging baskets or right in the garden, where it will reach 8-10 inches tall. $39.99 for three plug-size plants; MORE INFO: https://costafarms.com/products/mini-firefly-petunia-parent

Demoiselle Gift Set

The new Demoiselle tea from Tea Forte is the brand's seventh collaboration with The New York Botanical Garden. This 5-piece set includes one presentation box of 10 plant-inspired, pyramid tea infusers (two each of Citrus Earl Grey, Mountain Oolong, Wildflower Honey Citrus, Ginger Lemongrass and Tropical Passion Flower), a porcelain cup with lid and a tea tray. $60, MORE INFO: https://teaforte.com/products/tea-gifts-demoiselle-gift-set-601021

LEGO® Botanicals Plum Blossom building set

This realistic LEGO® Icons building set for adults includes bold, red and magenta flowers in various stages of growth — with closed buds, partially open buds and in full bloom. After you’ve had fun constructing the 327-piece set, “plant” it into the included pastel blue flowerpot with gold band and “wooden” stand to enjoy — care-free — for years to come. The completed project measures 13.5 inches x 6.5 inches x 3.5 inches. $29.99; https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/plum-blossom-10369