But nothing made of cardboard matches the beauty and aroma of a fresh-cut floral arrangement to make the day extra special for Mom.

The oldest brand in the floral delivery business, FTD (www.ftd.com), is still a good starting point.

Founded in 1910, FTD connects with more than 20,000 florists in North America and more than 50,000 affiliates worldwide.

Once known as “Florists’ Telegraph Delivery,” FTD already had a growing network of affiliates in place to handle new orders coming in via phone and the Internet.

FTD now has numerous Web partners as well, including such sites as JustFlowers.com and FlowersAcrossAmerica.com.

These Web partners can add value to those looking for unique gifts with an extraordinary depth of options to choose from.

JustFlowers.com, for example, has over 800 arrangements within its Mother’s Day category alone.

But if you prefer the best-selling items to a unique arrangement, check the FTD site to make sure online partners aren’t charging a premium for the exact same product.

An arrangement of Asiatic lilies offered on FTD.com for $44.95, for example, was listed at $59.95 elsewhere.

Freshness should be a key consideration along with price. Floral providers like KaBloom (www.kabloom.com) emphasize speedy transit from farm to home.

If you are a frequent flower-sender, and like to send cards as well, check Hallmark’s site (www.hallmark.com).

The company’s premium brand will tell Mom that you spared no expense on your gift. And you can keep mum on the company’s discount codes and frequent shopper programs.