Carnation: July Flower of the Month
It just wouldn’t be right if we didn’t start out our newsletter’s Flower of the Month with Carnations!! Y’all, carnations are one of the most misunderstood flowers! They kind of have a bad rap for being old fashioned and outdated, but we want to change your mind about these affordable, long lasting and versatile flowers! Hear us out!
At one time carnations were the most popular flower in the world, but have since be turned to be known as the funeral flower or the cheap flower. Well, we could not disagree more and we are thrilled to see they are making a comeback! Sure, they are one of the more reasonable flowers, but that doesn’t make them any less beautiful! Carnations in our opinion are one of the most versatile flowers out there and can bring so much fun and life to wedding florals, everyday arrangements and bouquets! They are a great accent flower in mixed designs (all their ruffles give great feminine texture), but they are equally as great on their own (I mean, just check out our carnation bouquets & arrangements.) Just like anything, they just have to be used right. Don’t be afraid to add carnations to give color, texture and dimension to any floral design!
"Carnations last for ever,"
-Martha Stewart
So, let’s learn a little about carnations:
The scientific name for carnations is Dianthus Caryophyllus, meaning “flower of the Gods.” If you’re like us, we will stick to easily calling them carnations.
The ancient greeks and romans cultivated the flower over 2,000 years ago.
Carnations symbolize fascination, distinction, and love. Pair those symbolisms with the color symbolisms of a color and you can give a truly meaningful arrangement.
They come in over 300 varieties!
The color options for carnations are endless! Through selective and genetic breeding, carnations come in just about any color you could ever want. And if you can’t get it naturally, carnations can easily be dyed using a mixture of food coloring and water.
Carnations are edible. However, they are very bland, so you’re not missing out on anything tasty, but it’s fun to use them to garnish those beautiful cocktails and desserts for sure!
They have a very light fragrance making them great for people sensitive to smells.
They are the state flower of Ohio, the official first wedding anniversary flower, and birth flower for the month of January.
They have a long vase life of up to 14 days (if cared for correctly, of course!)
If there were anything we didn’t like about carnations, it’s that they aren’t safe for pets. They are toxic to cats and dogs, as well as horses, so be careful to keep them away from areas of the home that pets could access your floral arrangements! We love your fur babies so we want to educate you on what is unsafe for them!
