Moms teach us how to love, how to laugh, and how to grow. When Mother’s Day comes around on Sunday, May 9, it’s an opportunity to honor those who made a special impact on our lives. Whether you’re celebrating your mom, the mother of your children, a mom-to-be, or another impactful mother figure in your life, they’re probably one of the strongest and most giving people you know.
This year, appreciate mom while enjoying spring blooms at Mt. Cuba Center. There are plenty of spring blooms at their peak during Mother’s Day weekend. Take it a step further by packing a picnic and relaxing in the newly renovated Allée. And don’t miss the two miles of trails that just opened in Mt. Cuba’s natural lands.
Here’s what we expect to be in bloom the week of May 9. Visit the gardens Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.
Blooms for Moms
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
This beautiful woodland wildflower has drooping, bell-like flowers and is well known for its showy red and yellow coloring. It’s backward-pointing tubes, or spurs, contain nectar that attracts long-tongued insects and hummingbirds. Some think these spurred petals look like an eagle’s talons and that’s where the genus name Aquilegia comes from. In Latin, “aquila,” means “eagle.”
Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata)
The colorful blooms and easy culture of dwarf crested iris make it a valuable addition to shady native woodland gardens. In mid-spring, this attractive perennial groundcover is a mass of pale to deep violet blooms that reach 4-6” in height. Its 5-6” sword-like leaves arise from small rhizomes, that quickly spread, to form impressive colonies with a unique textural quality.
Large-flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Some of the most iconic spring wildflowers at Mt. Cuba are part of our trillium collection. One of the most recognizable is Trillium grandiflorum, commonly known as great white trillium or wood lily. It’s a graceful perennial that can be found throughout eastern North America. Trillium get their name because their leaves, petals, and sepals all come in groups of three.
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Wild geranium is a beautiful, easily grown perennial wildflower. Its charming pink to magenta flowers are a welcome sight in spring, and this woodland wildflower retains its attractive foliage all season long. This reliable, clump-forming perennial can also be used as a groundcover.
Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
This pleasant wildflower creates a haze of blue in the spring atop delicately branched stems as it spreads happily in the woodland garden. Woodland phlox is an herbaceous perennial that is among the most reliable and carefree plants, producing large clusters of fragrant lavender blue flowers.
Looking for something else for mom? Check out our Mother’s Day gift guide!