January Gift Flowers: Carnations
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Red carnations from a gift bouquet keep a little sprig of pink geraniums company in kitchen vase.
January Gift Flowers: Carnations
January is a special month in my home because both my cat Margaret and I celebrate our birthdays. Margaret turned 19 years old this year, human years equivalent of 98 years old. She has always had selective hearing and now she's a little challenged with her eyesight so I keep tabs on her so that when she cries because she's lost, I can quickly find her.
She was sitting next to the little vase with leftover gift flowers from a friend over Christmas when I remembered carnations are January's gift flowers. The red carnations had lasted almost a month already, one of the longest cut flowers one can buy among the many choices.
Florists like to add long-lasting flowers in their arrangements so the flowers can be enjoyed as they wilt. Chrysanthemums, in all of their forms, is another long-lasting choice, as are Peruvian lilies, which can last as cut flowers for a good 6 weeks.
I try to remember how well a plant will work as a cut flower as I add them to my garden.
What Carnations Represent in Language of Flowers
In the Victorian era, flowers held special meaning so they were carefully selected when sending to someone. Today the "Language of Flowers" still holds, with the color of carnations having a different meaning, much as roses do.
White carnations suggest pure love and good luck, light red symbolizes admiration, while dark red represents deep love and affection.
Here are some other meanings for carnations in various different colors:
Pink Carnations: Mother's Love
Light red Carnations: Admiration
Dark red Carnations: Deep Love and a Woman's Affection
Striped Carnations: Regret, Refusal
Green Carnations: St. Patrick's Day
Purple Carnations: Capriciousness
Yellow Carnation: Disappointment, Dejection
These hot pink carnations blended in beautifully with my long-lasting Peruvian lilies.
I almost picked up some yellow carnations on sale to keep my flower vase company earlier today. I settled instead for a bouquet of hot pink ones to keep my still-blooming Peruvian lilies company. The yellow ones were so tempting because they were bright and cheery, a welcome spot of color in an otherwise cold and gloomy month.
When I looked up the meaning of yellow carnations in one of my Language of Flowers book, it said yellow carnations represent disdain. Regardless of the meaning, I think fresh flowers are welcome in any color, for any celebration, any time of the year!
Charlotte
