Wanita and Dan play catch the gift for Mother’s Day week, Andress’ Your Independent Grocer, Smiths Falls, Ontario © PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

By MAGGIE M, Editor, Wedgee-in-Chief, theWedge.LIVE

“Don’t drop it or you’ll have to buy it!,” I howled at Wanita Andress positioned to catch a pink geranium planter airborne from the hands of husband Dan. It was their idea–not mine.

She caught it.

Out of thin air, Wanita called this activity, “Catch a Gift.” It might catch on. I can only imagine this becoming a thing, customers heaving planters at each other en masse. An advertising tag could read, “At Andress, moms don’t receive a gift, they catch it!”

It’s time to love on Mom again. Heaving is optional. This Sunday, May 12th, is the big day.

I visited Andress’ Your Independent Grocer to see what’s blooming in their well-stocked garden centre. First, I peaked inside to see what else was bundled and potted. My feet stopped. I did not expect they would lead me to a purse made with flour, icing and candy.

“I made this purse myself!” Wanita Andress gushed as she met me. I believed her as I witnessed her dress Christmas cookies masterfully. There is an unrequited baker in this grocer.

Mother’s Day purse cake, Andress’ Your Independent Grocer, Smiths Falls, Ontario © PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

And then I spotted the answer to the cupcake craze. It’s definitely a five-cupcake creation; but, I believe a sixth may be in the middle holding-up that copious icing.

Mother’s Day cupcake cake, Andress’ Your Independent Grocer, Smiths Falls, Ontario © PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

I also found a sweet arrangement Wanita dubbed, “The Treasure Chest.” The creator must have had children in mind. A butterfly is the tell-tale.

“The Treasure Chest,” arrangement for Mom at Andress’ Your Independent Grocer, Smiths Falls, Ontario © PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

I returned to the Garden Centre. (It just calls you back.) The colors, the scents are magnets.

The staff were in fine military form stocking tables and racks with geraniums, verbena, succulents, millions bells, impatiens, pansies, petunias, dahlias–some blended in multi-colored baskets.

It was entertaining to watch the couple prune the daffodils out front. (And Dan sprinkling their petals on Wanita’s head.) Truly, this is undirected by me. A photographer’s dream. I did convince them to remove the shades though–they looked like spooky operatives.

Wanita and Dan prune daffodils. Mother’s Day week, Andress’ Your Independent Grocer, Smiths Falls, Ontario © PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

I was taken by the sculptures in the centre, especially the large silver herons. I’m guessing they were three feet tall. There were blue ones too. The perfunctory lawn flamingos were lined-up; they are ostensibly lawn comedy. And the region is not lacking in comics.

My hands were scented with lavender and thyme when I departed–with the pink geranium.

I caught the gift.

A POEM FOR MOM

No one so near to you now as your mother!
Others may hear your words of beauty,
But your precious silence is mine alone;
Here in my arms I have enrolled you,
Away from the grasping world I fold you,
Flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone.

Lucy Maud-Montgomery