Ode to a Simple Flower

I'll never forget the day I cried over carnations.  Thom and I just started working together.  We were talking about our favorite designs, our favorite flowers, and our experiences as floral designers before we met.  I had some pretty stringent ideas of what I wanted Dragonfly to be, and what I was willing (and not willing) to do.  I told Thom that in no uncertain terms would I ever design using carnations or silk flowers.  Thom told me he liked both.  And frankly, I burst into tears.  I couldn't believe that this person who I had chosen to be in business with could use such a tacky, white trash flower!

Granted, I had only seen them with liatris and alstromeria in cheesy FTD-type arrangements and I will always think of the bright blue, green and red ones my high school used to sell to students on special occasions.  (Maybe it's just a deep seeded resentment-- I never was popular enough with the boys at my high school to carry an armful around on Valentines or St. Patrick's Day).

Also, this was well before Martha started using them and before you could see really cool examples of how to use them by some of my design idols (Preston Bailey and Paula Pryke to name just two).  I stuck to my guns for about two or three years, but then images started creeping into bridal magazines, pomanders became super popular for aisle markers and as an alternative to flower girl baskets, and brides started to ask for spheres of flower for their centerpieces and tents and garden decor!   Before you know it, we started ordering carnations by the thousands.

I must say, I have grown to love carnations over the years.  There is nothing like them to make composed or shaped arrangements, they come in a wonderful variety of colors and smell simple fresh and wonderful.  They are a quintessential, classic men's boutonniere-- my first thought when I have a  dapper groom who evokes that old Hollywood feel. 

Lately, we've found that there are fewer and fewer growers of carnations (especially the newer green and purple shades) and they're getting pricier and harder to get in large quantities.  So sad.





I would hate to see this sweet little flower become a hard-to-get novelty item or worse yet, unavailable like some of my other past favorites!  So, next time you want those fabulous spheres suspended in your wedding tent, or need a classic but relatively inexpensive centerpiece, or maybe just want to dandy boutonniere for dad next weekend, think of the carnation.  And damn, look how cute they can be!!!

Oh-- for the record, silk flowers still bring tears to my eyes.  And not in a good way.

Enjoy!