meant to say terrarium (sp?)...LOL that's what I get for looking at a magaizine while trying to type..lol

So few perennials bloom reliably the first year when started from seed. And I assume that you need plants that remain somewhat small. Dwarf shasta daisies are easy to start from seed and would probably bloom within your time frame. For outside perennials, hardy hibiscus are easy and bloom well the first year (but not until around early July).

Sunflowers are not perennials, but easy for the kids to grow and have blooming by Mother's Day. Some of the dwarf varieties only grow to about 2 1/2 - 3 feet and make cute contaniner plants.

All of my coneflowers bloomed the first year, as well as yarrow, pinks, gallardia, agastache (we call it 'bee-sicle'), and iceplant (very fast). These are just some of the perennials that we grew from seed, but I am sure that there are others. I even started them late in the season, since I had to set up my little growing enterprise outside due to space limitations.

Most of them were budding or blooming while still in their 4 inch transplant containers!

If you want a very reliable flowering container plant for Mom, I would be tempted to go for the Profusion series of zinnia. One little seed will produce an amazingly full, colorful plant in a very short time. It's an annual, of course, but will bloom all season long.

Thank you for your suggestions. I believe I have Zinnia and sunflower's ( not the dwarf kind though)....I guess I need to put in an order...;)
It's ok for it to be an annual and it could be something that will be taken out and maybe planted in a pot or garden by the mother....( I am one of them) LOL

Sondra

I suggest the dwarf Marigolds in cups for Moms. For the perrenial bed, what about Lantanas?