🌸 Mother’s Day Magic: Blooming Gifts, a Decadent Vegan Dessert, and a DIY Rose Project

This Mother's Day, go beyond the bouquet and give your mom something that grows with love. Here's a gift guide with beautiful flowering plants she can enjoy all season, an indulgent vegan Strawberry-Chocolate Trifle she’ll never forget, and a simple how-to on growing roses from cut stems—yes, even store-bought ones!

                                           Rosemary is a delightful flowering herb, fragrant,

                                           beautiful, and with many wonderful applications.

                                          (Video Short by C. Zirkwitz)

🌼 Best Flowering Plants for Mom That Keep On Giving

These flowers are perfect for gifting in pots and then transferring to a garden bed or patio container:

• Gerbera Daisies – Bright and bold; prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
• Lavender – Fragrant and calming; thrives in containers or garden beds in full sun.
• Hydrangeas – Stunning blooms that change color based on soil pH.
• Miniature Roses – Perfectly gift-sized and transplant well outdoors.
• Begonias – Shade-loving with vibrant flowers, great for porch planters.
• Chrysanthemums – Late-season bloomers that come back year after year.

Tip: When repotting, use a high-quality potting mix, and water thoroughly after planting.

Vegan Strawberry-Chocolate Trifle (Dairy-Free Decadence)

Ingredients (Serves 6–8)

Chocolate Cake (or use store-bought vegan cake):

1 cup (240 ml) plant milk (almond, oat, etc.)

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

½ cup (100 g) brown sugar

⅓ cup (80 ml) oil or applesauce

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour

⅓ cup (30 g) cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

Pinch of salt

Coconut Whip Layer:

1 can (400 ml) full-fat coconut milk (chilled overnight)

2 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

Fruit Layer:

2 cups (300 g) fresh strawberries, sliced

1 tbsp sugar (optional, if berries are tart)

Optional Garnish:

Shaved dark chocolate or cacao nibs

Mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Make Cake: Combine wet ingredients. Whisk dry ingredients separately, then mix together. Pour into a greased pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes. Cool completely.
2. Coconut Whip: Scoop the solid part of the coconut cream into a bowl. Beat with vanilla and maple syrup until fluffy.
3. Assemble: In a trifle dish or glass cups, layer crumbled cake, coconut whip, and strawberries. Repeat layers.
4. Chill: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish as desired.

🌹 How to Grow Roses from Cut Stems (In 5 Simple Steps)

You can propagate roses from trimmed stems, whether from a bouquet or your mom's garden. Here’s how.

You’ll Need:

1. Rose stems (6–8 inches, cut just below a leaf node)
2. Sharp pruners or scissors
3. Small pot or container
4. Potting mix or a mix of peat moss and perlite
5. Rooting hormone (optional but helpful)
6. A clear plastic bag or jar for humidity
7. Spray bottle with water

Steps:

1. Prep the Stem: Cut a healthy rose stem (no flower), remove leaves from the bottom half.
2. Dip in Rooting Hormone: Optional step to improve rooting.
3. Plant the Cutting: Insert into moist potting mix about halfway deep.
4. Create Humidity: Cover loosely with a clear bag or jar to trap moisture.
5. Place in Indirect Light: Keep warm and mist regularly. Roots should form in 3–6 weeks.
6. Once rooted, transplant to a larger pot or garden bed.