That post from the Jolly Nguyen (jolynguyen) in Can Tho, Viet Nam brought back fond memories. I had a McNamara scholarship (all expenses paid) to the University of Viet Nam after high school and spent a little time around there. The Basa/Swai fish you buy at the market is raised in pens in the Mekong River down there, just downstream from the outhouses hanging over the river. I hope that doesn't mess up anyone's dinner plans.

I can't think of any WS seedlings that will be sizeable by May in our zone. One feature of WS seedlings is that they are much smaller in the spring than greenhouse or indoor grown seedlings, but they catch up and often surpass them by mid/end of summer! Perennials will usually remain small for the first season. However, annual flowers, herbs, and veggies will grow quickly after May, and make Mom happy thru the summer. The herbs you list are generally perennial and will be tiny for the first season (I've winter-sown oregano, thyme, rue, and savory, all perennial herbs). How about basil, parsley, or dill, which will grow quickly and are very popular herbs. Parsley and Dill are also host plants for Black Swallowtails, and kids usually love caterpillars! For flowers, how about annual Sunflowers or Rudbeckia hirta. Many pretty varieties of these.

well it turns out i WILL NOT be getting a mothers day order this year... we have bills to pay and decided that the $40 i would have gotten to spend on plants is need more to pay bills.... so i guess maybe next year i can get the plants ive been waiting to get... :(

Hi Deva: I'm sorry I haven't respond to this post ... I thought it's advertisement for flowers. Own-root roses are great gifts for Mother's Day, they last longer in the ground and more disease-resistant than the cheap bare-roots at store, which are grafted on Dr. Huey. Grafted roses decline and have more diseases. Roses Unlimited have a sale 1st week or 2nd week of June, half-price. Last year they sold roses for $8 per gallon own-root. See the below link as to which roses are most disease-resistant, and no spray. Here is a link that might be useful: Your most healthy and no-spray roses?