Category: Mother’s Day

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The Lovely Carnation – January’s Birth Flower

Pink flower isolated on white background

Scientifically known as “Dianthus caryophyllus,” the carnation has a rich and meaningful history. Delicate, delightful, and durable, carnations are only second the rose in being used in bouquets. “Dianthus” loosely translates to “flower of the gods” or “flower of love.” The carnation is one of the world’s oldest cultivated flowers and has been revered for centuries – all the way back to Ancient Greece and Rome. Beautiful bouquet of carnation flowers isolated on white background

Symbolism of Carnations

In general, the carnation flower signifies love, distinction, and fascination. Different colored carnations also have their own symbolism: 

White carnations = good luck and pure love

Pink carnations = gratitude and a mother’s love

Light red carnations = admiration

Dark red carnations = passionate, deep love

Purple carnations = whimsical, impulsive

Yellow carnations = disappointment, rejection

Bunches of pink carnation flowers different varieties in vases. Lovely Vintage background with flowers. Wallpapers. Clove bunch present for Mothers Day.

Fun Facts About the Carnation

  • Carnations are edible: This popular bloom is often used to decorate desserts and salads. Carnations have also been used for over 400 to flavor wine, beer, and liquor drinks. 
  • Carnations have a long life: Carnations can live up to two years, and they can remain fresh for two weeks after being uprooted. 
  • Carnations come in almost every color: Their natural colors are pinkish-purple, but through selective breeding, carnations can now be found in shades white, orange, red, yellow, blue, and green. 
  • You can change the color of a white carnation: Just place a fresh cut carnation into water that has the food coloring mixture of your choice, and watch the magic happen as the petals absorb the color overnight. 
  • Carnations have medicinal properties: In the past carnations have been used to treat hair loss, skin problems, muscle aches, and mental distress. 
  • Greeks and Romans used carnations in garlands. This is why many people think the word “carnation,” a derivative of the Greek word “coronation,” comes from.
  • Carnations are native to Eurasia: They are not native to Australia but have been grown commercially there since 1954.

Pink flower isolated on white background

Recently, carnations have come to be associated with a mother’s love and are therefore a popular bloom for Mother’s Day. Besides this holiday, though, carnations are popular year-round and a favorite choice of many florists for a variety of different occasions. They are one of the most widely recognized flowers in the world and continue to delight and captivate people with their charm and decorative frilly allure. 

The numerous colors, beauty, and different sentiments these flowers can express are a testament to the power and popularity of this classic beauty. A floral mainstay from antiquity to now, the carnation has proven itself to be a long-lasting flower and worthy contender of the rose. 

For fresh-cut carnations or any of your floral needs, Cascade Floral Wholesale is here for you. 

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Make Homemade Gifts for Mother’s Day

Mixed Bouquet of Blooms

One thing all moms tend to have in common when it comes to gifts: homemade is best. Moms love gifts from the heart, so this Mother’s Day, Cascade Floral Wholesale has put together some fabulous Do-It-Yourself gift ideas for moms. Simple enough for even the craft-challenged and too cute to pass up, you’ll love creating these gifts almost as much as mom will love receiving them. Your thoughtful time and effort will bring a huge smile to her face and give her a beautiful keepsake that shows how much you love her. Take a look at some of these great ideas, then get busy! You may even tuck a few ideas away for mom’s birthday, as well!

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How To Handcraft A Bouquet For Mom

Mixed Bouquet of Blooms

Step aside, brides. There’s a new bouquet in town. 

When’s the last time you handed over a hand-wrapped bouquet of flowers, specifically designed to be gathered up in one’s arms, its beauty breathed in, its fragrance fawned over? Chances are, it’s probably been a minute. And while it’s de rigueur to offer mom a pretty floral arrangement for Mother’s Day, presenting her with a gorgeous handmade bouquet is a more meaningful gesture. Especially when she finds out it was made by none other than you. Cascade Floral Wholesale has the skinny on how to make a Mother’s Day bouquet that she will never forget. 

Step One: Gather Ye Rosebuds

Seek seasonal flowers. Let this be your mantra. And when it comes to building a beautiful Mother’s Day bouquet, you really couldn’t have picked a better season. If you stick with florals that are abundantly available, you’ll be keeping your costs down, ensuring that your flowers are in the prime of their life, and discovering far more selection. We love our Spring Bulb Flower Mix for a seasonal bouquet. It comes with an assortment of tulips, hyacinth, ranunculus, and daffodils, making the design possibilities quite literally endless. Choose our 50-bulb option to ensure you have plenty to work with, and don’t forget to pick up other supplies you’ll need: garden pruners or shears, vase for storage, floral tape, corsage pins, and wax paper and ribbon for presentation. 

Step Two: Prep Your Petals

Arriving home with a bounty of fresh, high-quality flowers is like winning the lottery. You’ll have the strong desire to take exceptional care of them, and you should, right away. Clear a working space that offers you plenty of light. Position a mirror (full-length is ideal) nearby. Unwrap the flowers, cut the stems a bit, and remove any leaves or excess foliage around the bottom of the stems, where your mom’s hands will be. Plop each flower into a bucket of water as you work through all of them. When you’re ready to design, remove your blooms from the water and lay them out in groupings, keeping like with like. This will help you see all of the floral riches at your disposal. 

Step Three: Commence Designing!

Stand in front of the mirror and begin to create a base of foliage or greenery, about 5 stems, in your non-dominant hand. As you work, keep your hand firm but loose, and check the mirror for perspective. Once you’ve framed out your base, begin adding in your heavier, more prominent flowers, 3-5 at a time. Alternate feature flowers for interest, texture, and color. Pop in smaller blooms and accent ones, filling out your bouquet. Embellish with more greenery. Once you’re finished, carefully turn the bouquet upside down and cut all of the ends evenly, for a clean, polished look. Take your floral tape and wrap it around where it will be held. Leave the floral tape sticky side up for the last couple of wraps, which will allow the ribbon to stay in place. Wrap over the tape with the ribbon, affix a few corsage pins, and voila! You’ve just made a Mother’s Day Bouquet.

If you want to present your bouquet wrapped in wax paper, that’s easy enough to do. Simply leave off the floral tape and hold your flowers together with some twine. Fold your flowers into the paper, burrito-style, and tie it all together with the perfect ribbon.