The earliest Mother's Day celebrations we know of were ancient Greek spring celebrations in honor of Rhea, the mother of the gods. But those were in honor of one particular mother. England's "Mothering Sunday," begun in the 1600's, is closer to what we think of as "Mother's Day." Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England.

In 1907 Anna Jarvis started a drive to establish a national Mother's Day. In 1907 she passed out 500 white carnations at her mother's church in West Virginia--one for each mother in the congregation. In 1908, her mother's church held the first Mother's Day service, on May 10th (the second Sunday in May). That same day a special service was held at the Wanamaker Auditorium in Philadelphia, where Anna was from, which could seat no more than a third of the 15,000 people who showed up.

By 1909, churches in 46 states, Canada and Mexico were holding Mother's Day services. In the meantime, Ms. Jarvis had quit her job to campaign full time. She managed to get the World's Sunday School Association to help; they were a big factor in convincing legislators to support the idea. In 1912, West Virginia was the first state to designate an official Mother's Day. By 1914, the campaign had convinced Congress, which passed a joint resolution. President Woodrow Wilson signed the resolution, establishing an official national Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May.

Many countries of the world now have their own Mother's Day at different times of the year, but Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan, and Turkey join the US in celebrating Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. Britain still celebrates Mothering Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent--but they now call it Mother's Day. By any name, and at any date, it's a special day to honor a special person.

Having trouble thinking of a gift? Why not do something a little different for Mother's Day? Instead of giving her a bouquet of roses, plant her a rose garden! If she already has a rose garden--add to it! If she lives in an apartment, consider a potted rose plant--many roses will do quite well in containers (ask us for suggestions).

Why give one bouquet that will soon fade away, when you can give years of pleasure from living roses instead?

Also known as Painted Tongue, Tail Flower, or the Flamingo Lily, anthuriums are grown for their brightly colored spathes, ornamental leaves, and long-blooming habits. Placed in an attractive container, the shiny, dark green foliage is a wonderful backdrop to the showy heart-shaped flowers that can last up to 8 weeks. Requiring little care, and blooming almost continuously in good conditions, this tropical wonder likes bright light, and feet that are allowed to dry out to the touch in-between watering; so be sure to ensure good drainage.

They grow best when daytime temperatures range from 78 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and night temperatures are between 70 and 75 degrees. They will not tolerate frost or freezing conditions; remember that their native origins are tropical!

Varying from flowering, velvet-leafed, pendulous (or hanging basket types), or palmate-leafed, anthuriums are poisonous, and the plant sap can cause skin irritations, so handle them with care, and keep the household pets away.

Feed with a blooming plant food, where the middle number is the largest of the three numbers; this represents high phosphoric acid content and will ensure you continual blossoms. Feed every other month and the reds, pinks, lavenders, and whites of the flowers will be an asset at which you will smile each time you pass.

By Tamara Galbraith

Fuchsias have long been a favorite with our friends across the Big Pond in the U.K., but hardier versions are starting to attract some attention now in the U.S.

Saying "hardier" is a little deceptive, however; even the most robust fuchsias only survive outdoors year-round to USDA Zone 7 at the northernmost. In the colder parts of the U.S., fuchsias may be grown as annuals or dug up and overwintered indoors or in the greenhouse.

On the flipside, most fuchsias can survive warm climates, if you're not bothered by the sight of them wilting slightly on a hot day. Adequate humidity is the key - which, incidentally, is why they do so well in jolly old England. If you keep your fuchsias in a hanging basket, be sure to water often. Some shade is advisable.

When grown in hanging baskets, the dangling flowers of fuchsia make a lovely display. The double corolla varieties especially will remind you of the stiff, fluffy skirts of a lady square dancer.

Should I fertilize shrubs before or after rain?

Answer:
That depends on whether the ground is wet before it rains. Fertilizer should never be applied to dry ground or dry plants. Chemical fertilizers can burn plants when the ground is dry, because the salts that are a by-product of the fertilizer will reach the plant cells before the water can replenish them.

Most organic plant foods need moist soil to break down and allow the beneficial microbes in them to proliferate. If the ground is already moist and you know a measurable amount of rain (at least 1/2") is coming, then apply your fertilizer before. If the ground is dry, allow the rain to replenish the soil with moisture and then apply your fertilizer. After you fertilize, make sure to water the fertilizer in so it percolates into the soil.

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