Pink
Gratitude, and a love you never forget.
Chapter one
The flower of the gods
Its real name is Dianthus caryophyllus. Dianthus comes from two Greek words: dios, “of the gods,” and anthos, “flower.”
The Greek botanist Theophrastus gave it that name more than 2,000 years ago.
Chapter two
Where it all began
- Long, long agoWild carnations grew on the sunny, rocky hills around the Mediterranean Sea.
- Ancient Greece & RomePeople wove them into garlands and crowns for celebrations. One story says the word “carnation” comes from “coronation.”
- 1600s – 1800s, EnglandGardeners bred them for patterns. Flowers with petals edged in a second color were named picotee, from the French picoté, “marked with little points.”
- TodayThey're grown all over the world. Colombia is one of the biggest growers, sending carnations to almost every country.
Chapter three · How it grows
A tiny seed
Planted in loose, well-drained soil, a carnation seed sprouts in about one to three weeks.
The stem
It grows tall and slender, with little “knots” along the way where new leaves come out. It loves the sun, about six hours a day.
Blue-green leaves
The leaves are narrow and grow in pairs, one on each side, with a soft blue-green, almost silvery color.
The bud
The petals wait folded inside a green tube called the calyx, until they're ready.
The bloom
The bud opens into dozens of ruffled petals. The edges look like they were trimmed with tiny scissors.
Chapter four
Two colors, one flower
A two-toned carnation is white at the heart, with every petal edged and streaked in color, like someone painted only the tips.
Fun fact: carnations belong to a family nicknamed “pinks.” Some say it's because of their frilly edges, which look like they were cut with pinking shears.
Chapter five
What it says without words
White
Pure love, and good luck.
Two-toned
Two colors that stay together in one flower.
Carnations are among the longest-lasting cut flowers. In a vase, they can stay fresh for two to three weeks.
Chapter six
Every second since you
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Chapter seven
Plant your own garden
Tap anywhere in the garden below. Every tap grows a carnation, just for you.
tap to plant ✿
Even the stars know.