Carnations Done Like I Like Them

I put together this arrangement including local carnations (from Neve Roses of Petaluma) way back in April in preparation for Mother's Day.  Did you know carnations were once so in demand for Mother's Day that in 1917 American florists united in a national campaign to encourage consumers to consider other flowers, such as "her favorite" on the second Sunday in May? Mass importation, freakish artificial dyes, and contrived designs (both retro and contemporary) continued to batter the poor dianthus through the century, contributing to it's current reviled status. And I don't think that ugly, unspeakable abbreviation so common in the industry helped, either. Tear.

While the craziness that was May interfered with me actually posting these photos in time for Mother's Day, they've already proved useful in converting quite a few carnation haters; once people see these pretty flowers designed in a natural, gardeny way that flatters their feminimely ruffled petals, and are informed of their divinely spicy sweet scent (maybe I am spoiled on this count- I can get carnations locally and they may be more fragrant as a result), they love them almost as much as I do. : )