In Lithuania, Mother's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. In 2027 that is May 2, which is very early in the spring. Flowers are almost a given on this day: for mothers, grandmothers, and sometimes mothers-in-law or godmothers. The short version: choose the spring flowers that are at their best that week, think about whether a bouquet or a potted plant suits her better, and order ahead, because Sunday is a very busy day for florists.
What flowers are around in early May
May is a lovely month for flowers, but not everything blooms at once. It helps to know what is actually available at the start of the month.
Tulips
Tulip season is still going, and the choice is wide: from classic shapes to double varieties whose full blooms look a lot like peonies. Soft pink, cream and apricot tulips suit Mother's Day especially well.
Ranunculus
Layered, almost paper-like petals that look like small roses. They come in white, pink, apricot and peach shades. In a vase they open slowly and last quite well, as long as you trim the stems and change the water every few days.
Lilac
Many people associate Mother's Day with lilac, but garden lilac in Lithuania usually flowers in mid to late May. On the first Sunday of May it is normally not out yet, unless the spring has been very warm. If you have your heart set on lilac, ask in advance.
Peonies
Peonies are one of the most loved flowers, but their season starts in late May and runs into June. They are usually not yet around on Mother's Day, so double tulips or ranunculus are the better way to get a similar look.
Roses and other flowers
Roses, freesias, carnations and other flowers are sold all year round, so they can be combined with spring flowers. A few cream roses with pink tulips and ranunculus, for example, make a soft, spring-like bouquet.
A bouquet or a potted plant
Both are good choices. It depends on the person.
A bouquet works well if:
- she likes having cut flowers in the house;
- you want the gift to look festive straight away;
- you are visiting and need something easy to hand over.
A potted plant works well if:
- she likes houseplants and looks after them;
- you want the gift to last longer than a week;
- your mother or grandmother lives alone and finds it hard to change vase water every few days.
An orchid is one of the most popular choices: it flowers for a long time and is not difficult to look after. Another option is a potted hydrangea. Some hydrangeas can later be planted out in the garden, but in Lithuania that is done after the spring frosts, usually after mid-May.
A third option is a flower box. The flowers are set into wet floral foam, so no vase is needed, only a little water now and then. This is convenient for older people.
Flowers for a grandmother
For a grandmother it is worth choosing a little differently than for a mother:
- A compact bouquet. Easier to carry, to place on a windowsill or table, and to find a vase for.
- Nothing too strongly scented. In a small room, heavily scented flowers such as lilies or hyacinths can be tiring.
- Easy care. A plant that only needs watering once a week, or a flower box, is often the most practical gift.
- Familiar flowers. Many older people love tulips, roses and carnations because they know them and know how to look after them.
If you are greeting several women at once, such as your mother and grandmother, you do not need two identical bouquets. You could choose two bouquets in the same style but different sizes, or a bouquet for your mother and a plant for your grandmother.
The card
A small card with a few handwritten words often means more to people than the flowers themselves, and many keep them for years. Two or three sentences are enough: thank her for something specific, wish her good health, say when you will visit. A specific memory always sounds more sincere than general phrases.
If your children are small, let them write or draw the card themselves. Choosing flowers with children is fun too: even a single stem picked by the child means a lot to a mother.
Why order ahead
Mother's Day, like March 8 and September 1, is one of the busiest days of the year for florists. Because it always falls on a Sunday, most people go for flowers that same morning, before driving to their mother's for lunch. By midday the most popular flowers and colours may be gone.
It is easiest to order a few days before, for example on Friday or Saturday. When you order, mention:
- who the bouquet is for: mother, grandmother, mother-in-law;
- the colours or flowers you would like;
- your budget;
- when you will collect.
Pick the bouquet up as close as possible to when you will give it. If you are driving a long way, ask for the stems to be wrapped with moisture, and keep the bouquet away from the sun and the car heater.
Mother's Day flowers in Kaunas
The Gitanos gėlės flower stand is inside the Šilas supermarket at A. Baranausko g. 26, Kaunas, open every day 8:00–23:00, Sundays included. Bouquets start from 15 €, potted plants from 8 € and flower boxes from 35 €. You can pre-order a bouquet for your mother or grandmother by SMS at +370 656 38880 or on gitanosgeles.lt and collect it on Sunday morning.
