Wayland Weekly Flower – Green Carnation Bouquet

A St. Patrick’s Day bouquet, featuring green carnations (Dianthus Caryophyllus), from Donelan’s Supermarket in Wayland.  The bouquet was imported from Columbia which is the world’s leading producer of carnations.

The green carnation was created by selectively breeding.  White carnations can be dyed green by putting them in water containing food coloring.  I expect this carnation is a natural one because of its light green color. Natural carnations are light green; whereas, dyed carnations are typically deep or dark green.   

According to mythology, carnations appeared from the tears of the Virgin Mary when Christ was crucified, and they are important to St Patrick’s day because its roots are an Irish Catholic holiday celebrating their patron Saint.  The original color associated with the holiday was blue, but by around 1900, the holiday’s color had switched to green.  The green stripe in the Irish flag which traditionally represents the Catholics of Ireland and the “Emerald Island” nickname for Ireland are thought to have driven the change.  The Irish flag is a tri-color flag.  The green stripe is thought to represents the Catholics of Ireland, the orange stripe to represent the Protestants, and white middle stripe to represent the peace between these two religions.

The flowers on the right side of the bouquet are white Alstroemeria flowers (common name Peruvian lily).  Alstroemeria flower, like carnations, have good vase life; however, they have little to no fragrance.

The flower on the lower left, near the carnation, is a green spider chrysanthemum.  It is part of the daisy family of plants which includes zinnias and marigolds. This flower also has good vase life and adds a distinctive touch to the arrangement.

Return here every week to warm up to a picture of flowers from somewhere in Wayland.  Perhaps learn a bit about flowers, and different places in Wayland. 

Submitted by Duane Galbi

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