Take Mom to Old Home Supply in Fort Worth on Saturday to pick out her gift. Courtesy photo.
There’s something about May in North Texas. The bluebonnets are resplendent, the heat actually feels good and everywhere you look there’s a reason to slow down a little. Mother’s Day sits right in the middle of it all, asking us to do something simple and meaningful: show up with love.
But these days, a lot of us are also asking another question, how do we celebrate well without creating a pile of waste that lasts longer than the memories? The good news is, you don’t have to choose between thoughtful for Mom and eco-friendly for Mother Earth. Around here, those two things go hand in hand more often than you’d think.
GET OUTSIDE
North Texas is full of easy, beautiful ways to spend time together without buying more “stuff.” Experiences don’t end up in a drawer or a landfill. They linger. They become the stories you tell later. Here are some ideas:
• Enjoy a morning walk around White Rock Lake.
• Picnic under the trees at your local nature preserve such as Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. See Amy Martin's Wild DFW for more ideas.
• Spend a day in Fort Worth, exploring the Water Gardens, Japanese Gardens and more.
• Stroll through a local farmers market, letting Mom pick out what she actually loves
Enjoy some of the other venues below. Make sure to check hours as some retail centers are closed on Sunday.
BUILD-YOUR-OWN BOUQUET
The Flower Market on Seventh Street in Fort Worth feels like stepping into a hidden pocket of delight right in the middle of the city. It has a bit of a Paris or New York feel, like you just wandered in off the street. Nothing fussy or overly curated, just rows of fresh flowers in buckets, many of them grown right here in Texas, waiting for someone to gather them up and make something their own.
It’s easy to build a bouquet for Mom. Start with a few focal flowers, roses or peonies, usually around $2 to $4 a stem, then add in some filler like daisies or spray carnations for $1-2 each. A bit of greenery, eucalyptus or ruscus, might run $3-6 a bunch and gives the whole thing that loose, gathered feel.
Debbie Borek’s team is always nearby to lend a hand, so you’re never really on your own. Before long, you’ve got an armful of color. A quick wrap with kraft paper or twine, and it’s done. Most folks seem to walk out spending somewhere in the $15 to $30 range, depending on how full they want it to feel.
Don’t miss Flower Hour every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., when all flowers are half off. Better yet, grab a couple of tickets to one of their DIY workshops ($125), like the Ice Cream Social, where you’ll learn real arranging techniques, visit with other flower lovers and enjoy a little something sweet while you’re at it. Flower Market on Seventh Street, 2733 W 7th St, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-Sat. Closed Sunday.
A GIFT THAT KEEPS GROWING
If you’re thinking about giving a plant this year instead of cut flowers, Look for herbs from Blue Label Farms. Tucked out in Wylie, this family-run farm has been growing USDA-certified organic herbs and plants since 1971, quietly becoming a behind-the-scenes North Texas staple.
Their four-inch potted herbs are the kind you’ll spot at places like Calloway's Nursery, Northhaven Gardens and even in the walk up to Whole Foods with healthy, hardy plants that are meant to be eaten, not just admired.
What makes them special isn’t just the organic certification, it’s the consistency and care that comes from being family-owned for decades and still run by Aaron Pinkus, whose folks helped to establish the Dallas Arboretum.
These aren’t shipped-in, one-and-done plants. They’re grown right here in North Texas which means they actually stand a chance in our heat. A pot of rosemary or basil from Blue Label feels like a small thing, but it turns into something more, something Mom can keep on the porch, snip from while cooking, and enjoy long after the day itself has passed.
For the perfect gift, fill a basket with 3 to 4 herbs, throw in a bag of organic fertilizer, some gardening gloves – and Mom will love it!
DINO-MIGHT PICKLES
If you make your way through the Dallas Farmers Market this week, be sure to stop by Kelley Produce in the main building, open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. It’s one of those places that just feels right, fresh food, friendly faces and a real connection to the land.
Owner Janiece Black is a big part of that heart, along with her husband, Keith Kelley, who runs their wholesale operation. A Dallas native, Janiece spent years farming up in Washington before coming back home and putting her hands back in Texas soil. You can feel it when you talk to her. She loves her food, local farmers and she cares about what ends up on your table.
One of our favorite finds there is T-Rex Pickles, made by Travis Rex, a local artist and latter-day hippie, usually easy to spot thanks to his famous dreadlocks and an easygoing smile. Travis has a special way with cucumbers, turning them into slices, spears and chips that are crisp, punchy, and just the right kind of tangy all at once.
For Mother’s Day, T-Rex Pickles make a fun addition to a basket, something unexpected, a little quirky and completely local. Add in some fresh veggies, maybe a loaf of bread or a wedge of regional cheese and you’ve got the beginnings of a slow, heartfelt gift that feels a whole lot more meaningful than anything wrapped in plastic. Kelley Produce Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
CULTURE IN EVERY BITE
There’s something especially fitting about celebrating Derin Raji and her Green Sahara Potato Chips around Mother’s Day.
Not only is she a mom herself, but she has honored her own mother with her company. Derin is a fourth-generation female entrepreneur in her family. Her mom, grandmother and great-grandmother were all business owners. At its heart, her brand feels like a tribute to her Nigerian heritage, tradition and the kind of recipes and flavors that are so often passed down from mothers and grandmothers.
Her three vegan chip varieties, Sweet Peanut, Savory Spices and Barbecue Chili, each represent a different region of Africa, and together they tell a story that feels both personal and deeply rooted. One brings a warm, comforting spice, another feels bright and lively, and the third has a rich, grounding depth. It’s the kind of spread that reminds you of a family table, where every dish has a history and every flavor has meaning.
What makes it even more special is how Derin has taken those influences and turned them into something you can share so easily. A bag of chips becomes more than just a snack. It’s a small way to honor culture, memory and the women who shaped them. And on a day meant to celebrate moms, that feels just right.
Find Green Sahara chips at Ann’s Health Food, Central Market, Kroger and Sunflower Market or shop online.
SAY CHEEZA
There’s a good chance you’ve bumped into Grand Prairie-based Cheeza Pleeza's products at a market somewhere around town and didn’t realize you were standing in front of a little bit of local magic. It all began because of a mom.
Lynn Wilford didn’t start out trying to build a food brand, she just wanted to make something her elderly mother would actually eat but that was also healthy, full of protein and all of the good stuff. Lynn is an amazing culinary creator, so she started playing around in the kitchen, adding this, tweaking that, until she landed on a pimento cheese that had real personality. Not only did her mom literally eat it up — but Lynn took a batch to a market and it was gone before she could even settle in.
That just kept happening, which is usually a pretty good sign you’re onto something. Soon, she added new, creative flavors like Five Cheeza Savory Pimiento, Poblano Jack and Dill Pickle Palooza, and she keeps on innovating.
These days, her spreads have a bit of a following, but they still feel like a secret that you discovered, not something mass-produced.
You’ll find them locally at Central Market, Cox Farms Market, and even Greens Produce out in Arlington, tucked in among all the fresh, local goodness. You might even see Lynn herself at a farmers market as she rotates each weekend between St Michael’s, Burleson, Keller, Benbrook, Denton and Sanger.
And if you’re wondering which flavor to try first, my personal favorite is Hatch Green Chile with just enough kick to keep things interesting, and the kind of flavor that somehow ends up on everything once you bring it home.
Visit online.
VINTAGE VALUES
There’s something about an afternoon at Orr-Reed Wrecking that feels like stepping into a living scrapbook of Dallas history. Run by Hannah Hargrove and her mom, Michelle, the place is full of architectural antiques with stories etched into every piece: old doors, weathered hardware, salvaged treasures just waiting for a second life.
Take Mom there for a slightly offbeat experience and you’ll be sure to find some historic Dallas relics. I fell in love with a round top door that I just might buy and save for my someday tiny house. And I was charmed by all of the brass doorknobs, aged mouldings and even garden statues.
But the real joy isn’t just in what you find, it’s in the time you spend there. It’s like a living museum where you can wander slowly, run your hands over the past, and then pause for a good, easy conversation with Hannah and her mom. They know their inventory, they know the stories, and they make you feel like you’ve been coming in for years. Frankly, a place like that is more than a shop.
It’s a reminder that some of the best afternoons with your own mom aren’t planned, they’re discovered, one salvaged treasure and one good conversation at a time. Orr-Reed Wrecking,1903 Rock Island St, Dallas, TX 75207. Hours: Mon-Fri, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closed Sunday.
On the Fort Worth side, visit the Old Home Supply for that same kind of vintage, time-stood-still feeling. Ralph Waterson and his team have spent a lifetime saving Westside history, and their multiple buildings are absolutely bursting with it – rows of old doors, stacks of reclaimed wood, vintage hardware, light fixtures and pieces you didn’t even know you were looking for until you see them.
Wander for an hour, strike up a conversation and walk out with something that’s already lived a whole life before it gets to yours.
Better yet, take Mom with you and let her pick out something special that turns the gift into an afternoon together, which is really the best part anyway.
And in a world where so much gets tossed aside, there’s something especially meaningful about giving a piece like that — something rescued, reused and ready for a second story.
Honestly, that might be the most eco-friendly thing of all, taking something with history and keeping it out of the landfill, giving it a second life instead of letting it go to waste. The Old Home Supply, 801 College Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76110. Hours: M-Sat 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Closed Sunday.
FORT WORTH'S FINEST
Celebrate Mom with a relaxed but upscale, homey brunch at Ellerbe Fine Foods, a Fort Worth favorite run by chef and co-owner, Molly McCook, and her husband, Richard King. They’ve spent years building a place that feels more like a gathering spot than a restaurant, centered on local farms, simple ingredients and food that tastes like it came from someone’s kitchen who really cares.
Early on, Ellerbe helped breathe new life into its stretch of Magnolia Avenue, back when the area was still finding its footing, and it’s been part of that neighborhood’s steady revival ever since.
It’s the kind of place where you can settle in, take your time and enjoy a meal that feels thoughtful, seasonal, and just right for the day.
Their Mother’s Day brunch is a three-course menu for $68 per person, with plenty of lighter, veggie-forward options like green goddess soup, fresh spring salads, and grain and vegetable plates that feel bright and satisfying without being heavy. There’s also a children’s menu for $26, which makes it easy to bring the whole family.
Mother's Day Brunch hours are Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sunday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Be sure to make reservations. Ellerbe Fine Foods, 1501 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104.
HEALTHY DELIGHT
If you’re looking for something that feels light, fresh and just a little bit intentional for Mother’s Day, True Food Kitchen is a pretty easy yes. The concept was started by Dr. Andrew Weil along with restaurateur, Sam Fox, built around the idea that food can actually make you feel better, not just full.
Everything is seasonal and thoughtful, without ever feeling preachy about it. For Mother’s Day, they’re leaning into spring with their full brunch menu alongside a limited-time seasonal lineup. Think fresh, colorful plates, vibrant cocktails and thoughtfully crafted zero-proof drinks that feel just as celebratory without the alcohol. Most brunch dishes and bowls tend to land in the $15 to $22 range, with starters and sides closer to $10 to $15, and cocktails just a bit more depending on what you order.
And for those who know, the return of their beloved puffed bread ($9 with whipped ricotta) is reason enough to make a reservation. This is one of those spots that tends to fill up quickly. True Food is the kind of place where you can sit a little longer than you meant to, order something amazing and leave feeling good about the whole thing, which, honestly, is a pretty nice way to spend time with Mom. Choose two locations: Dallas or Plano. 8383 Preston Center Plaza, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75225, 7601 Windrose Avenue, Suite F100, Plano, TX 75024. True Food Kitchen. Hours M-Th 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.