Fragrant Memories
The days of the Carnation Festival are now just distant memory and the massive glass greenhouses in the area are now long gone, but the humble Carnation is still my favorite flower. I'm not alone in my adoration either, Carnations have been cultivated for many centuries for their ease of growing, beauty, and distinctive scent reminiscent of sweet cloves.
Contents at a Glance
A Fragrant Journey
Symbolism
Many colors, many meanings
The history of mankind and the Carnation covers over 2,000 years. It is one of the world's oldest flower varieties. There are many meanings of carnations, but the most popular are fascination, distinction, and love. Its scientific name Dianthus roughly translates to "flower of love" or "flower of the gods". History of the Carnation dates back to ancient Greece, early Christians believed that the first carnation bloomed when Mary wept for Jesus as he carried his cross.Like other flowers, different meanings can also be expressed with different colors. Light red carnations is used to express admiration, and dark red deeper sentiments of passionate love and affection. White carnations symbolize purity and luck. Pink are often given to show gratitude.
Leonardo da Vinci
Madonna With the Carnation
Dianthus
Dianthus is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native mainly to Europe and Asia, with a few species extending south to north Africa, and one species (D. repens) in arctic North America. Common names include carnation (D. caryophyllus), pink (D. plumarius and related species) and sweet william (D. barbatus). The name Dianthus is from the Greek words dios ("god") and anthos ("flower"), and was cited by the Greek botanist Theophrastus.
The species are mostly perennial herbs, a few are annual or biennial, and some are low subshrubs with woody basal stems. The leaves are opposite, simple, mostly linear and often strongly glaucous grey-green to blue-green. The flowers have five petals, typically with a frilled or pinked margin, and are (in almost all species) pale to dark pink. One species, D. knappii, has yellow flowers with a purple centre.
Dianthus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, Double-striped Pug, Large Yellow Underwing and The Lychnis. Also three species of Coleophora case-bearers feed exclusively on Dianthus; C. dianthi, C. dianthivora and C. musculella (which feeds exclusively on D. suberbus).
The colour pink may be named after the flower. The origin of the flower name 'pink' may come from the frilled edge of the flowers: the verb "pink" dates from the 14th century and means "to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern" (maybe from German "pinken" = to peck). Source: Collins Dictionary. The verb sense is also used in the name of pinking shears.
Perfume Yourself
Red Carnation
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The Beauty of Carnations
Dianthus Seeds
Easy to grow in many different climates. Try some in your own garden.
Dianthus caryophyllus
Dianthus caryophyllus (Clove Pink) is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is the wild ancestor of the garden Carnation.Med-Checklist: Dianthus caryophyllusFlora Europaea: Dianthus caryophyllusBlamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall. The leaves are glaucous greyish green to blue-green, slender, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are produced singly or up to five together in a cyme; they are 3?5 cm diameter, and sweetly scented; the original natural flower colour is bright pinkish-purple, but cultivars of other colours, including red, white, yellow and green, have been developed.Flora of NW Europe: Dianthus caryophyllus
Carnation
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Flowers In Your Library
Incredible, Edible, Petals
Spice up your salads, decorate your ice, and more.
Carnations are colorful, fragrant and edible flowers. The taste is spicy, sometimes peppery, and adds a lively touch to other foods. Carnations come in different colors and tastes. The petals can be eaten along with greens in salads, they can also be frozen into ice cubes to decorate a floral punch bowl and look so pretty floating in it. Here are two excellent sigts to give you some more ideas on using this versatile flower in your kitchen.Carnations Online
- Florapedia
- The meanings of Carnations.
- The University of Vermont
- Considering Carnations.
- Wiki Books
- Gardening tips for Carnations.
Butterfly Food
Butterfly Feeding
This butterfly was feeding on my dianthus. Music by Jenny Brown.
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1 Comments:
These Carnations Live Forever
Gifts for the flower lover in your life
Carnation Cross
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Leave A Flower For Me!
Well, a pretend flower anyway.
coopd wrote...
Great information. I didn't know carnations were edible. I always love learning new things about nature. Thank you so much for sharing. 5* I would love having you submit this lens to my Nature Lovers group :)
Posted September 11, 2008
flowergardener wrote...
Excellent! I also love carnations! Plus I have a few dianthus growing every year in my flowergarden. Welcome to the Flowers, Flowers, and more Flowers group!
Posted August 25, 2008
RichLeigh wrote...
Fantastic lens there! I particularly like your use of pictures throughout the lens here.
Posted July 30, 2008
triathlontraining wrote...
Great job! Very nicely created lens. I didn't know it is one of the oldest flower varieties. Very informative. :)
Posted July 30, 2008
Floral Squidoo
Group of Carnations
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