SMELL-THE-ROSES GETAWAYS
Roses burst into full bloom right around Mother's Day. Here are some fragrant gardens with great picnic spots — and plenty of extras to entertain the whole family.
Relaxing fun in Gold Country: It doesn't take a mother to love Empire Mines State Historic Park in Grass Valley, Calif. Everybody will find relaxing fun here — even the family dog. Moms, stroll through the beautifully restored rose garden at the owner's mansion while the rest of the gang checks out the "secret room." It contains a scale model of the 100-year-old gold mine's underground workings, equipment, living history tours and miles of hiking/biking trails. Admission: $3. 10791 E. Empire Street, Grass Valley, CA; 530/273-8522
Viva Las Vegas: Yup, a sumptuous flower garden grows right inside the hotel/casino. Bellagio's landscape designers have created a spectacular, wildly theatrical spring-themed living floral display. Check out the lushly-planted Sin-City-meets-Tuscany look of the hotel grounds. The gardens, fountains and pools worthy of San Simeon take on a whole new look at night when the lights go on. Kid-friendly and free. 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas, Nev.; 702/650-9459
Find roses among thorns: In point of fact, they're not roses at all, but the plants at Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden still put on a show for Mother's Day. Take break from the dry in the misty, lushly planted Marshall Butterfly Pavilion and picnic under the palo verdes. Or catch the special ay concert and luncheon featuring classical guitar ace Estéban. And for kids, the zoo is right next door. 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Ariz.;
480/941-1217
Rose-a-palooza: How can Mom go wrong with more than 7,000 roses to smell? Portland's International Rose Test Garden has more varieties than you can shake a stick at, plus a wide array of activities for the whole family in the little piece of rose-heaven that is Washington Park. Don't miss the lovely Shakespeare Garden within the garden. Free. 400 SW Kingston Ave., Portland, Ore.; 503/823-3636.
YOU SHOULDA BEEN IN PICTURES
Digital photo freaks: Grab your cameras and rev up your computers ! Here are three ways put yourself in print and create major keepers for Mom (or Dad):
There's no place like home: Order America At Home online and have it custom printed with a glossy book jacket featuring your own family photo.Inside, you'll find 250 cleverly edited images taken at home over a seven-day period by amateur shutterbugs, plus 100 of America's top photojournalists. You'll want to share this time capsule of today's home life in America with your great grandchildren.
One book with your custom cover costs $39.95 plus shipping and handling. Peek inside the book and order online. You can get your book in as little as 5 business days using the expedited FedEx option.
She'll flip: Let Moo.com turn your family photos, artwork, or words of praise and adoration into a deck of 60 minicards Mom can thumb through any time she starts missing you. They come in a sturdy recyclable plastic box, or you can order a snappy carrying case. Step-by-step instructions make it easy. If you come up short of great images, you can import from Moo partners: Flickr, Bebo, Etsy, Facebook, Fotolog, Livejournal and Vox; $19.99.
Book of love: Wow Mom with a tidy little book of your most meaningful family pictures (and words, if you like). Scan and include the kid's first drawings. It's easy with a little help (and free software for Mac and PC) from Blurb.You can create your own bookstore-quality, 7- by 7-inch, 20-page tribute to your family starting at $12.95 per copy. Your book will take 5-6 working days to print, and can be delivered in as little as one business day.
BY HAND, WITH LOVE Hot tips for crafters and shoppers.
Silhouettes suitable for framing: Step-by-step directions show you how to immortalize kids, pets, and Mom herself in charming, cameo-like profiles at design*sponge.
Directions include easy, inexpensive ideas for artfully backing and displaying your masterpieces.
Hint: they'll look perfect in Ikea Ribba frames. Or maybe something recycled from a yard sale or your very own attic.
Here's my heart: Check out our blog, Home by Sunset, for a simple alternative to the store-bought greeting card. This step-by-step valentine works equally well for Mother's day. Or — clever you — add a computer (or hand drawn) cut-out of the sublimely symmetrical word MOM to the pop-up heart.
Buy if you must, but buy by hand: Okay, you're not the DIY type. But you can still choose from hundreds of fresh, hand-crafted gifts at Etsy.com's Mother's Day Showcase. Send for an elegant letterpress card from TallulahCards. Inside, write Mom a love note hinting about the custom necklace you've ordered for her. Then have words of love or names of loved ones hand-stamped onto brushed a sterling silver charm festooned with stars or fresh-water pearls from Hazelnut Cottage.
While it might not arrive by Mother's day, it will make the loveliest of late May bonanzas-by-mail.
More great Sunset projects
