By Melinda Myers

Give mom a gift that provides beauty all season long with minimal care. A basket, container or garden bed filled with these award-winning annuals is sure to generate a smile and enjoyment all summer long.

If mom likes to garden, provide her with a few seeds, potting mix, and a container. Include a few new varieties of traditional favorites.  Marigold Super Hero Spry is a compact French marigold with 2” dark maroon and golden yellow flowers. The striking bicolor blooms top 10- to 12-inch-tall plants. Best of all, mom will have flowers eight weeks from the time she sows the seeds until frost. Or, surprise her with a container of instant beauty. The 2017 All-America Selections (AAS) winner Calliope® Medium Dark Red is beautiful alone or mixed with other flowers in containers, hanging baskets or in-ground gardens.  It was selected by AAS for its outstanding performance for home gardens.

Brocade Cherry Night and Brocade Fire are two more winning geraniums selected for their striking foliage and colorful blooms. The semi-double orange flowers and green and bronze foliage are sure to brighten any garden location or container. The green edged bronze leaves and red blooms of Brocade Cherry Night will surely impress mom and any of her visitors.

Add more wow to mom’s garden with Onyx Red ornamental pepper. The dark black foliage contrasts nicely with the shiny red fruit. Its stunning beauty adds ornamental appeal to containers and garden beds. Ornamental peppers are edible can be very hot or very bland, so it’s best to look and not taste. There’s a reason they are called ORNAMENTAL peppers! Or try NuMex Easter ornamental pepper for varying colors of beauty. The abundant upright fruit ranges from yellow to orange to purple, providing a wonderful display throughout the season.

Bring the tropics to your mom’s patio or deck with cannas.  Their large foliage and bright colored flowers make any home feel like an exotic escape.  South Pacific Orange, South Pacific Scarlet and Tropical Rose are compact vigorous varieties suited to containers and the garden. The large leaves add drama to the garden and once their blossoms emerge they’ll provide lots of color and hummingbird appeal.

Make this Mother’s Day one you and your mother will remember throughout the summer. Give her a gift of winning beauties to brighten her containers, gardens and uplift her spirits all season long.

“This post is provided as an education/inspirational service of All-America Selections. Please credit and link to All-America Selections when using all or parts of this article.”