Lots to do to help show Mom some love

5/9/2013

Ah, finally, Mother’s Day weekend.

Moms everywhere can sit back and enjoy a weekend of being pampered, entertained, and treated with the respect and adoration that they deserve. At least we hope so. With that in mind, here are a few events geared toward mothers.

Spring plant sale

The Toledo Botanical Garden greenhouses will be bustling Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day as the greenhouses overflow with more than 5,000 plants for sale, including veggie seedlings, perennials, hanging baskets, Oak Opening native plants, and numerous other growing things. (Hint: this might be a good opportunity to get mom or your step-mom a gift.)

Crosby Lake tours will be offered and there will be food, music, and children’s activities.

A number of free workshops will take place:

Saturday

10:30 a.m., Exciting New Perennials for 2013; 11:30 a.m., All About Orchids; 1 p.m., Healing With Food: From Farm to Plate; 2 p.m., Grow With the Flow: Building a Raingarden.

Sunday

11:30 a.m., Grow With the Flow: Building a Raingarden; 1 p.m., For the Birds: Gardening for Birds With Native Plants; and 2 p.m., Butterfly Gardens.

Toledo Botanical Garden greenhouses are at 5424 W. Bancroft St.

Mommy Madness

The Toledo Repertoire Theatre will celebrate motherhood this weekend when it presents the frankly funny MOMologues on its 10th Street stage.

“These are heartwarming tales, comedic tales that kind of encapsulate and give you the full experience of motherhood, said director Elizabeth Cottle.

The moms, played by Laura Crawford, Angie Patchett, Susan Korecki, and Joy Vorraber, share their stories of motherhood from trying to conceive to watching one’s first child go off to first grade.

“I’m pretty excited about it. I think there are several moments in the play where I’ve heard different moms say almost verbatim things that are in our script,” Cottle said.

Parental discretion is advised as the play includes strong language and mature subject matter.

“MOMologues” will be performed at 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Toledo Repertoire Theatre, 16 10th Street. Tickets are $15. Information: 419-243-9277 or toledorep.org.

More laughs

Moms and their families can also get their giggles Sunday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Mother’s Day Comedy Celebration at the Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd.

The event is expected to feature Michael Blackson, Luenell, Red Grant, and Rodney Perry and this is for mature audiences, so leave the youngsters at home. Tickets range from $35 to $51 and are available at the Stranahan box office, by calling 419-381-8851 or at www.stranahantheater.com.

A few other things

The Toledo Zoo will host its popular Mother’s Day brunch in the Nairobi Pavilion from 10:15 to 12:45. Some of the time slots are sold out so check at www.toledozoo.org before going. Brunch prices range from $10.25 to $20.

Admission for moms Sunday at the zoo is free.

Moms who bring their children along also get into Imagination Station at 1 Discovery Way in downtown Toledo for free Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Blade staff writer Julie Njaim contributed to this story.

Contact Rod Lockwood at rlockwood@theblade.com or 419-724-6159.