| Flowers can (and often do) make up a | | | | outdoors in milder climates. Some varieties |
| fascinating and beautiful aspect of our | | | | of florist carnations grow to a height of 4 |
| environment, both outdoors and indoors. | | | | feet. Their fragrant blossoms are often 3 |
| Besides the dazzling (if not bewildering) | | | | inches wide in an assortment of colors |
| assortment of different kinds of flowers | | | | including scarlet, white, pink, crimson, red, |
| available to spruce up your office or garden, | | | | orange, purple, yellow, and many-splendored |
| some studies seem to suggest they even | | | | colors.These carnations are widely used in |
| improve your health and mental outlook. In | | | | floral arrangements for weddings, Mother's |
| the hopes that you might receive some benefit | | | | Day, Valentine's Day, January birthdays, |
| or enjoyment from learning about them, I have | | | | funerals, and a host of other occasions. As |
| done a bit of research online (and plenty of | | | | with border carnations, their flowers are |
| editing) to introduce my to you a favorite | | | | long-lasting and can be easily preserved for |
| flower of mine. So here it is, in all its | | | | dried flower arrangements. Some spectacular |
| floral glory -- the Carnation. It's a wild | | | | varieties of florist carnations are:The Pink |
| thing.The Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), | | | | Calypso -- Double flowers having lovely clear |
| say "die-AN-thus cari-OFF-ill-us" -- is a | | | | pink petalsThe Dianthus Pierrot -- Double |
| flowering plant native to the Near East and | | | | flowers with pale rosy lavender blossoms |
| has been cultivated for the last 2,000 years. | | | | edged with purpleThe Dianthus Astor -- Double |
| So it might well have been familiar to Jesus | | | | flowers of deep scarlet and very fragrantThe |
| and the apostles, though we do not know this | | | | Dianthus Nina -- Double flowers with |
| for certain. Its original natural color was | | | | smooth-edged petals of crimsonOn February 3, |
| pinkish, but later, ancient botanical types | | | | 1904, the Ohio General Assembly passed a |
| developed red, white, yellow and green | | | | joint resolution naming the scarlet carnation |
| varieties.Some scholars think the name | | | | the official state flower. Fifty-five years |
| "carnation" comes from "coronation" or | | | | later, on April 8, 1959, the Ohio Legislature |
| "corone" (which were crowns made of flowers, | | | | named Alliance, Ohio the "Carnation City," |
| called "garlands"), as the Greeks wove them | | | | for truly it is the home of Ohio's State |
| into ceremonial crowns. Others think the name | | | | flower. Another honor was bestowed on the |
| stems from the Latin "carnis" (flesh), which | | | | pink carnation when it was officially chosen |
| names the original color of the flower. Early | | | | as the emblem of Mother's Day in 1907. |
| Christians treated this flower as a symbol of | | | | Carnations have also long been representative |
| the affection God has for his people -- or | | | | of the month of January, symbolizing "new |
| that affection the saints are to show one | | | | beginnings," which is just what mothers, |
| another -- consummately put on display in | | | | weddings and the month of January have in |
| "The Incarnation," meaning that God's great | | | | common.I tend to favor the last two listed, |
| love for His Church resulted in the | | | | D. Astor and D. Nina, together with white |
| Incarnation, The Word of God made flesh in | | | | carnations, for which I have given the |
| the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the glorious | | | | suggested Bible verses as:Isaiah 1:18: "Come |
| King of kings.For the most part, carnations | | | | now, and let us reason together, saith the |
| express love, fascination, and distinction. | | | | LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they |
| Light red carnations represent admiration, | | | | shall be as white as snow; though they be red |
| while dark red ones signify deep love and | | | | like crimson, they shall be as wool."AND 2 |
| affection. White carnations indicate pure | | | | Corinthains 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in |
| love; striped symbolize a regret that a love | | | | Christ, he is a new creature: old things are |
| cannot be shared. Purple carnations indicate | | | | passed away; behold, all things are become |
| capriciousness, while Pink carnations have | | | | new."Carson Day has written some 1.3 |
| the most symbolic and historical | | | | gazillion articles and essays on all manner |
| significance.What are called | | | | of topics. These aim to glorify God and offer |
| "perpetual-flowering" carnations -- more | | | | people real help to live wisely and well. You |
| commonly dubbed "florist" carnations -- are | | | | can visit Carson's websites at (The |
| the kind florists most often grow | | | | Omniblog, where Carson blogs everything) or |
| commercially (in greenhouses), and so these | | | | (Carson's Day Trading Outpost). Thanks for |
| bloom year-around. You can also grow them | | | | stopping by. |