Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is May 8^th! My mother always says she does not want anything for Mother’s Day and that having me as a child is gift enough, but I know better! Buying gifts for Mom can be a lot of fun if you do not wait until the last minute, but in case you do, there is no need to panic. Here are a few ideas to help you along.

Flowers

Bouquets are the go-to Mother’s Day gift. Fragrant and colorful, they can brighten up the room for days. Check out Buckingham Florist, Inc. on Glebe Road. Their website lists beautiful bouquets in pots, baskets, and vases from $29.99 up.

If your mother keeps a garden, why not go for a potted plant or flat instead? Every year, I buy a flat of a different type of annual flower (one that has to be replanted each year) and plant them around the house for her. This gives her yard lasting color without needing to get grubby in the dirt herself! Campbell & Ferrara garden center, on Little River Turnpike in Alexandria, offers a huge selection of plants.

Tea

Another great gift is the gift of a good experience. Take Mom out to tea!

Teaism, on Connecticut Avenue in DC, is an Asian-inspired tea house with a wide variety of teas and gourmet foods to choose from. If heading into the city is not her idea of fun, you can order loose teas and scone mixes from their website and make a classy high tea for her with your own hands! It’s easy!

A truly excellent day would be taking her to a Tour and Tea at the National Cathedral, offered every Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:30. The highlights of each tour are displayed on the cathedral’s website. The tour is followed by a high tea with traditional English foods, at a table located in the Pilgrim Observation Gallery. Follow up the tour and tea with a walk through the beautiful cathedral gardens. At $25 per person, this is an affordable and very fun experience for you two to share.

Home Furnishings on a Budget

If, like me, you have been hit by the downswing of the economy, there are still plenty of very affordable and interesting gifts to be found. Check out the World Market, which has four locations in the Arlington area. They have a great selection of international foods and gifts under $30, from games and wine racks to throw blankets and blown-glass bottle stoppers.

Bethany Fuller

The Mike Webb Team, LLC