For centuries, Mothering Sunday has been celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent, in both the UK and Ireland, and was originally a day to honour and give thanks to the Virgin Mary (Mother Mary). It was traditional for families to return to their family church, which meant that this was often a day for families to be reunited, including domestic servants who were given time off to join their families.   There are many flowers associated with Mothers’ Day – there is a long tradition of carnations (it’s the official Mothers’ Day Flower in the USA and is symbolic of love), but also spring flowers. Traditionally workers would have picked wildflowers from the hedgerows to take home for their mum, so primroses, blossom, violets, forget-me-nots and other spring flowers. Whatever you choose, make it something your mum would like – big, expensive bunches of roses are lovely if that’s her thing, but a cheerful bunch of spring flowers will bring a smile to her face every time she looks at it.  At The Secret Garden we prefer spring flowers such as tulips, narcissi, hellebores, blossom and hyacinths – scent and colour, impossible not to love!