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.

I was thinking marigolds and found a link where someone WSed them.
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/wtrsow/msg1121491227887.html

A plus is they help with pest control as well.
http://www.ourherbgarden.com/marigold-companions.php

I think most wintersown stuff will be tiny on Mother's Day in zone 5. Lettuce might work?

No thoughts on flowers that might be sizable by that time. Hardy annuals like Bachelor Buttons might be best, and they are very easy. Rud hirts sprout pretty early and grow pretty fast.

I do heat lovers like marigolds and zinnias, but they're still tiny on Mother's Day, even in my zone 6.

Karen

emcd124,
The problem with Mother's Day is that there hasn't been enough warm weather to cause much to sprout. Even if you did plant in February, the seeds will stay dormant until conditions reach optimum for them to sprout. In our Zone that doesn't happen reliably until at least mid April. Good luck.

Martha