Mothers Day Flowers - Bloomin' Blog

Carnations A Classic Flower

May 15, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Carnations Strength and Beauty in One Lovely Bloom

What do Spain and Ohio have in common? Carnations. The national flower of Spain and the state flower of Ohio are one in the same – the carnation. Among the most popular cut flowers in the US, the fluffy, fragrant carnation flower is frequently used in corsages, boutonnières and bouquets. With its multitude of colors and long shelf life (keeps fresh long after it is cut), carnations have a wide appeal. The strength yet daintiness of the carnation flower is the foundation for its appeal. After all the large full blossoms look very graceful perched atop their long straight and sturdy stems.

The History of Carnations – the Mothers Day Flower

Because of their long history, flower meaning and vast accessibility, carnations are often worn on Mother’s Day, at weddings or to prom. In fact, the carnation is the official Mother’s Day flower. Ann Jarvis, the founder of the holiday, chose the carnation as the official Mother’s Day flower in 1907 sending 500 white carnations to a West Virginia church for mothers to wear. Carnation flowers were her mother’s favorite and she thought the white carnation signified the virtues of motherhood. After that first service, Ms. Jarvis continued to send white carnations to the same church each Mother’s Day. Today carnations are still widely given on Mother’s Day.

But the history of the carnation flower goes back much further than 1907. Carnations have been cultivated for nearly 2,000 years. It is thought that carnations were used in Greek ceremonial crowns and were Jove’s favorite flower. According to Christian legend, carnations first sprang up where Jesus carried the cross. Carnations, also, appeared where the Virgin Mary’s tears fell as she was crying for Jesus. At that time carnations were a pink or peach color and were often thought of as being flesh-toned. However since that time many colors of carnations have been cultivated.

Carnations Flower Meanings and Colors

Versatility in both color and design is another wonderful attribute of carnation flowers. Strong enough to fill a focal point and delicate enough to play the part of an accent flower, carnations are a florist’s greatest ally. Florists can tint a white carnation to almost any color imaginable making it an ideal flower for matching wedding or party colors.

Pink and red carnations tend to be the most popular but other common colors include green, scarlet, yellow and white.
Green carnations are often associated with St Patrick’s Day.
Yellow, purple and scarlet carnations are used most often as accents in mixed flower arrangements.

Generally carnation flowers symbolize fascination, a woman’s love and pride; but the specific color of a carnation flower can hold a message for the recipient. Carnations can express different sentiments based on the color and symbolize different meanings in different cultures.

In Korea carnations are given on Parent’s Day, which is like a combination of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

In America, carnations are worn and given for many occasions, often using the color to reflect the meaning.

A pink carnation means gratitude or “I’ll never forget you.”
A red carnation expresses admiration or could signify my “heart-aches for you”
A purple carnation shows capriciousness.
Solid colors say, “yes”, while striped carnations say “no” and express a refusal.
Sometimes the meanings are conflicting, since striped carnations can, also, mean “sorry I cannot be with you”, “I wish I could”.
A white carnation, especially on Mother’s Day, represents purity, “sweet and lovely”, and a woman’s good luck gift.
A yellow carnation means rejection or “you have disappointed me”.
Mini carnations mean pure love or “my heart yearns for you”.

Whatever message you send with a carnation, a splendid aroma will accompany it.

Carnation Plant Care

The florist carnations are hybrids of Dianthus caryophyllus; although they can be grown in your garden, the florist-quality ones are grown in greenhouses or specialized farms.

There are several species of “carnations” that are grown in the gardens: Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) and Dianthus chinesis to name a few. Dianthus chinensis is the most widely grown, although it does not have the same look as a florist carnation. Most Dianthus species will have the same pleasing aroma (clove-like) as the florist quality carnations. Depending on the species, carnations can be biennial or annual which provide lush blooms through out the spring and summer.

Carnation plant care is not too complicated. A little work can harvest beautiful full blooms, which can be enjoyed in the garden or cut and arranged in a carnation bouquet. A simple table can be turned into an exquisite sight with a beautiful and fragrant carnation bouquet. Grown from seed, carnations can be directly sown in the garden or started inside and later transplanted. The aromatic and beautiful carnation plants are perfect for flowerbeds, containers and garden borders.

Although carnations prefer full sun, they do not take well to high heat and humid areas and will need protection from these conditions. Carnations, also, need well-drained soil preferring a sandy or gravel based soil. Over watering can make their leaves turn yellow and muddy damp soil can cause fungal diseases (crown rot and rusts). Proper drainage and plant maintenance are vital for healthy carnation plants.

Blooms that are past their prime should be pinched off – encouraging new blooms and alleviating fungal conditions. During the growing season watch for slugs, sow bugs, grasshoppers, aphids and spider mites. There are pesticides and organic methods to control these pests. Protect from wildlife such as deer, squirrels and chipmunks may be needed.

The Classic Carnation

Next time you need a gift for any event or a beautiful table decoration, don’t forget the classic carnation. Remember a lovely carnation boutonniere will make the moms in your life feel very special. Jazzing up your table for a special dinner party is a snap with a beautiful carnation bouquet. Whatever the occasion, you can find a florist ready to create the perfect carnation flower arrangement for you.

Contributor: Quinn Propst

Filed Under: Flower Identification, Flower Meanings, Flower Suggestions Tagged With: Carnation, Mothers Day, Mothers Day Flowers

Mother’s Day Blessings Are Small Wonders

May 6, 2008 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s the thought that counts.” That is very much the case with Mother’s Day gifts. I recently found myself scrambling among the mass of people shopping for something very unique and non-floral for my mother. However, I realized that there are many reasons why sending my mother a special flower arrangement is a unique Mother’s Day gift.

My mother is as unique as a dainty snowflake. She is among the most important people in my life. Decades spent with her have woven together the threads of time into a bond between her and I that cannot be broken. Because of this I wanted to get the best gift possible for her this Mother’s Day. I walked through the aisles and peered through online galleries in search of the perfect gift for her but none seemed to show how much I care. Not one had the special touch that a child or grandchild can bring. I wanted a gift that warms her heart because it brought forth a special memory. I thought back through all of the many times that my mother had received flowers from her children, my father, her own father who is now deceased, and others. I remembered the chipper little girl that seemed to shine through when she received each arrangement. I knew then that what I really wanted to give my mother was another flower memory.

My mother’s father has been gone for many years now. I’ve heard her speak often of her “pa” and the many wonderful attributes of this amazing man. I poured through the recesses of my mind and finally remembered the story that I’d heard mother relay of the first time that her father gave her flowers. I couldn’t wait to call my local flower shop and order a bouquet of daisies because it is exactly what she received from him nearly forty years ago.

No generically manufactured gift can ever elicit the same response from my mother as the daisies and accompanying card that read, “Your daddy would be proud of how wonderful a mother you’ve been to me.” While generic gifts may conjure up some sort of general emotion, they cannot touch individual hearts with the same tenderness as a child. They rarely accomplish the feeling of awe as a child watches the wrinkles of her mother’s face melt away, replaced by the bright smile of a little girl. Though many offered ideas, few would’ve thought that the perfect gift with the most special touch was the one that I’d almost overlooked though all it really needed was my mommy-daughter touch.

Daisy And Delphinium Photo.jpg Daisies For My Mother

— Brynn Jackson FSN —

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Mothers Day Flowers, Mothers Day Gifts

Mothers Day Tips for Florists

May 3, 2007 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Mother’s Day is almost upon us. To relieve some of your stress, we are sending a Mother’s Day Tips sheet for your new or part-time employees. Hopefully these tips will equip your employees with the information they need for efficient customer service while eliminating potential problems with order delivery.

Mother’s Day Tips

Place orders early, orders placed after 12:00PM cst Friday cannot be guaranteed delivery before Mother’s Day.
Please provide complete delivery information for recipients. We must have street address and telephone number, and a cell phone if possible.
Minimum Order for Mother’s Day is $40 with an average delivery fee of $8 to $10 except in metro areas where delivery could be as much as $15.
Always provide a 2nd choice option for each order.
Please inform your staff that FSN Headquarters may be calling with florist to florist orders during this holiday. These checks will be sent Monday following the delivery date and will be paid at 80%.

The FSN relay team is committed to making your holiday go smoothly.

Filed Under: Florists Only, FSN Announcements Tagged With: FSN Announcements, FSN-F2F Online, Mothers Day, Mothers Day Flowers, Sending Flowers

Flowers for Mother’s Day

May 15, 2002 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again when, by tradition, we honor those very special women who have been so important in our lives. While we certainly love and cherish our Moms the year round, Mother’s Day for remembering mom with a bit of extra love and attention.

You can’t go wrong with a gift of flowers for Mother’s Day

Flowers, with their intrinsic and vibrant beauty, are the perfect symbols for the life-giving energy that really defines motherhood. This Mother’s Day, florists across the country are well-stocked with beautiful blossoms to help you express your affection.

For example, the popular look in flowers these days features rounded blooms with soft, feminine textures in a lush and abundant arrangement. So a simple, clear glass vase filled with such flowers as hydrangea, ranunculus, peonies, and lisianthus , accented with delicate filler materials such as Queen Anne’s lace or Misty Blue limonium is sure to delight. Other soft textured flowers include stock, heather, delphinium, lilac and viburnum.

Roses Are A Mother’s Day Favorite

Of course, the rose is always a favorite choice of flower for Mother’s Day, and May is an especially good time of year for a bounteous selection of them. Add a few of these luxuriant blossoms to any bouquet to give it an extra measure of appeal.

Flowers For The Gardening Mom

Gardening is America’s number one hobby, and it remains as a very popular theme for Mother’s Day gift-giving. Consider sending Mom a basket of garden flowers arranged in a vegetative style; in other words, designed to reflect how they grow. A vegetative designed arrangement displays flowers in relaxed, vertical groups as though they were growing in a perennial border. Snapdragons, lilies, tulips, and iris work well in this style of arrangement. Special detailing with mosses, branches, and foliages, and perhaps the inclusion of some natural element, such as a bird’s nest, completes the presentation.

European-style Dish Garden

A European garden, which is a collection of green and blooming plants placed together into a basket or tray, is another charming way to present flowers for Mother’s Day, with the added benefit that the live plants will continue to survive and grow after the holiday. Bloomers like African violets, begonias, miniature roses, and cyclamens can be combined with green houseplants such as ivy, dieffenbachia, and philodendrons, accented with a branch or a flourish of ribbon.

It’s been said that it doesn’t matter what you give your Mom, as long as it’s flowers. Send her a garden of love, full of flowers for Mother’s Day, or consult you local Mother’s Day florist for other great ideas. But don’t delay……it’s only a few days away!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Newsletters Tagged With: Dish Gardens, Garden Flowers, Gardening, Mothers Day, Mothers Day Flowers, Rose

Mom Loves Flowers…

May 15, 2001 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

There isn’t a Mom around who doesn’t love to receive a gift of flowers from her favorite offspring. And happily, the selection of flowers available is never better than now. Spring blooms such as tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils have not quite come to the end of their season, while summer flowers like lilies, peonies, and larkspur have already begun theirs. Of course, roses are always available and always a good choice; the range of sizes and colors being produced today is unprecedented. More information and pretty pictures of flowers can be found on Flower Shop Network.

Mother’s Day Rose Suggestions

Bright, summery rose varieties include ‘Golda’ (intense, sunny yellow), ‘Sari’ (lively apricot), ‘Livia’ (clear, warm pink), ‘Raphaela’ (deep coral), ‘Peckoubo’ (creamy peach), and the vivid bi-color ‘Carnaval’ (white with a magenta edge). Roses look great presented in a vase by themselves, or accompanied by a delicate filler flower like ‘Misty Blue’ limonium. But they also work well in mixed bouquets with other colorful flowers, adding a touch of elegance that lets Mom know how much she is loved.

Garden-themed Flowers for Mother’s Day

A cheerful, garden-themed arrangement with a variety of fresh cut blossoms in a vase or a basket, or even a terra cotta pot, will surely bring a smile to Mom’s face, and your professional florist can help you make the right selection. The addition of an artistically curving branch or a handful of wispy grasses can add a lot of personality to the design. Naturally, part of the unique appeal and indulgent charm of fresh flowers is the fact that their beauty is so fleeting….it simply makes them all the more precious to us. To help cut flowers last longer, it is useful to change or add fresh water daily, keep them away from heat or cold and out of drafts, remove any spent blossoms, and use a fresh flower nutrient solution (available from your local flower shop).

More Mother’s Day Flower Suggestions

Vibrant blooming plants are also abundant at this time of year, including cyclamens, gloxinias, fancy chrysanthemums, and kalanchoes. Some varieties, such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and potted lilies can be replanted outside in the garden to bring joy to Mom’s heart year after year, reminding her of how special she is to you.

Mothers add a lot of color to our lives… they surely deserve to get a little bit back! Call or visit your local florist right away, and have your Mother’s Day surprise delivered early next week to maximize your Mom’s delight.

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Newsletters Tagged With: Mothers Day Flowers