May 17, 2008
Today, Mom's the word
Local mothers relish a day filled with tradition and family
At The Greenery in Abingdon, workers started round-the-clock floral arranging Tuesday in preparation for the holiday. (Sun photo by Lloyd Fox / May 7, 2008)
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Every family has its own Mother's Day traditions.
Mable Brown gets pampered by her nine children. Lydia Ruppert goes on a picnic. And Jeanne Litvin is treated to a lunch and a musical performance.
But it isn't the gifts that mean the most - it's spending time with her children, Litvin said.
"Being a mother is the most important thing that I will ever do in my life," said Litvin, who doesn't give her age. "People without children miss out on a lot. There's nothing like hearing from your children, not just on Mother's Day, but any day."
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Like many other mothers, these women have events planned for them, but not all their children can make it home for the holiday. Despite the distance, some local mothers say their children have found ways to bridge the gap and honor them on their day.
The women pointed to phone calls, flowering plants, money and flowers among the gifts from their children who live out of state.
In 2006, about 3.7 million bouquets of flowers were purchased around the country for Mother's Day, according to the Flowers and Plant Association.
Although nationally, florists are reporting a decline in business, local businesses are seeing the same or a higher demand for flowers, said Charles Wise, owner of The Greenery, a florist in Abingdon.
Starting on Tuesday night, his employees worked around the clock to make about 400 flower arrangements for Mother's Day, said Wise, who purchased The Greenery in December and owned another floral shop before that.
To fill the orders, he purchased about 1,000 roses and 500 carnations to make arrangements that he started delivering on Thursday, he said.
"I think flowers are the most popular Mother's Day tradition because of the aroma and the way a bouquet makes women smile," he said. "When someone receives a bright bunch of flowers, it makes them feel good."
Margie Fauci, owner of the Bel Air Florist, agreed.
"Flowers symbolize birth and loveliness," she said. "But the reason why Mother's Day is our busiest time is that everyone has, or had, a mother. Flowers are an easy fix for children who don't live nearby."
Fauci said that the shop sells hundreds of orders for traditional roses, in soft colors such as peach, pink and lavender, as well as unusual flowers such as orchids and snapdragons. She has also noticed a growing demand for peace lilies, she said.
"Sometimes people want some low-maintenance plant, so we recommend a peace lily," she said. "It's a glossy green plant that requires very little maintenance."
Occasionally, people ask the florists to include a box of chocolates or a piece of Waterford crystal if their mothers are collectors, Fauci said. "We always try to fill their requests. One time, someone asked us to sing when we delivered the flowers. We had an employee who had a beautiful voice, and she sang, 'You Are My Sunshine.' "
Fauci plants her mother's garden for Mother's Day.
"By doing her garden, I make sure she gets color and beauty for the season, and she doesn't have to break her back doing all the work," Fauci said.
Although women began celebrating Mother's Day in the United States in 1908, it wasn't until 1914 that President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May as the official Mother's Day.
Since its inception, even young children have found ways to surprise their moms.
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