Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and soon, the baskets will be hung in rows, bursting with colorful explosions of blooms, each one shouting, “Pick me, take me, I’ll celebrate you, Mom!”

My mother loved hanging baskets, but she couldn’t take care of one properly to save her soul. My sister and I did the heavy lifting. It became more than a Mother’s Day gift.

It was a journey of caring and nurturing, mainly of my mom, through a shared love of the cherished hanging basket. Mom had sunny spaces and shade spots, so she always got two baskets. Over the years, she received many kinds of “sun-loving” flowers in her baskets.

She was graced with petunias, million bells, geraniums, nasturtiums, verbena and moss roses to name a few.

For her shade spot, we got her to select types of impatiens such as Fuchsia and New Guinea. She enjoyed begonia varieties such as wax and angel wing. Her favorite shade basket was a feathery, Boston fern.

Mom was all about the perfect appearance in everything she chose. She would have preferred the black wire rimmed baskets filled with coconut fiber and mosses, but we always got her the standard, white plastic basket, and here’s why.

The metal-framed baskets with mosses dry out quickly. They are porous and water evaporates from the top and the sides. Hanging baskets require frequent watering, but these take a Herculean effort to stay hydrated.

Mom didn’t have time for that! Solid plastic containers hold their water better. Many have small reservoirs that help keep the soil moist. These were the perfect baskets for Mom.

Mom had a tendency to overwater, so we taught her this trick: Stick your finger or thumb about an inch or two into the dirt, and if it is dry, it’s time for a drink. When watering, it’s best to keep watering your basket until the water pours through the bottom.

This will ensure that the whole soil ball is wet. If you forget to water for a few days, your potting soil may become extremely dry and pull away from the sides of the basket. There’s no need to panic.

Take your basket and immerse it in a tub of water for only an hour or two. Watering this way will force the water to be absorbed slowly, and your plant will be grateful.

Mom passed away in July of 2024 and this Mother’s Day, there will be two baskets purchased — a sun and a shade — in her honor. I know Mom will be smiling down upon us.

She loved her flowers, but she loved it even more when someone else took care of them! Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!