Gadling

Several botanical gardens are having Mother's Day events this Sunday. One of the advantages of going to a botanical garden, I've found, is that they usually have wonderful gift shops that are perfect places for picking up that last minute present.

If you've forgotten to buy your mother a gift, when she's not looking, perhaps, when she's basking in the fragrance of a floral paradise, slip into the shop to buy her a little something. Since the wedding season is upon us, pick up a wedding gift as well. Here are the first 10 botanical gardens I came across that listed a Mother's Day happening. Nine are in the U.S. and one is not.

(This photo is from a tribute to redbuds and mothers at the Children's Garden at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. My mom taught me to love redbuds too, so I thought this fitting.)

1. Botanical Conservatory, Ft. Wayne, Indiana: Free admission and enjoy the butterflies besides.
2. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine: Free admission to moms and there's a special brunch. While your mom is eating, slip out to buy that gift.
3. Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland, Ohio: Like the Web site says, the redbuds are in bloom and they're gorgeous
4. Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, Belmont, North Carolina: Moms get in free with a paid admission and the first 250 moms get a potted plant.
5. Denver Botanical Gardens, Denver, Colorado: The Mother's Day brunch is sold out but you can bring your own picnic.
6. Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Niles, Michigan: Enjoy music, food and a plant sale.
7. Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Huntsville, Alabama: Moms can get a hydrangea, as long as they are available. There's a dinosaur theme going on, but this has nothing to do with your mother.
8. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia: Free family photo for moms while supplies last and free plants to the first 500 moms who come.
9. Tuscon Botanical Gardens, Tuscon, Arizona: Mom might like to learn about the dinosaurs here as well.
10. And one not in the United States: Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. If you took your mother to Australia for brunch, would she be impressed.

If you take your mother somewhere else on Sunday--or if you are a mom--ask for a discount. I got into a museum for free in Lugang, Taiwan once on Mother's Day because I could claim motherhood. The museum gave me a rose as well. The one catch is, I think you probably need to have your child with you.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Asia, North America, Taiwan, United States, Australia, Budget Travel