Carrying on with the next state flower quilt block--today we have: Oh sweet carnation! The birth flower for January. Also symbolizing love and distinction with different colors representing variations on that theme. For instance, did you know that a dark red or scarlet carnation denotes 'deep love and affection', while lighter shades of red represent 'admiration'? Apparently it does. White is for good luck or pure love. Striped or variegated symbolize love's sad regret. (Who knew?) What's more, purple carnations are the traditional funeral flower in France, given in condolence for the death of a loved one.
Carnations are strongly fragrant, and the colors are limited, thus whites are often dyed to create bi-colors with tinted edges. They make excellent cut flowers and are popular in wedding bouquets, as boutineers, and Mother's Day corsages because of their staying power.
On February 3, 1904, the scarlet carnation was chosen as the official state flower for Ohio. It was adopted by state legislature partly because it was a favorite of our 25th president, William McKinley, who always wore a red carnation in his lapel. But it wasn't until after his death (by assassination), that a joint resolution was passed by the Ohio General Assembly to adopt the flower in his memory.
The carnation may have also held sway after the impassioned speech of one legislator, Elijah W. Hill who said, in part: "England has the rose, France has the lily; Ireland, the shamrock; Scotland, the thistle. These flowers awaken in the hearts of the natives of these countries memories of home, fireside, childhood days, sweet sorrows, family ties, and incidents of the land of their nativity. To these ends we seek to adopt the scarlet carnation as Ohio's floral emblem." How could anyone refuse that, I ask you?
- DMC COLORS: I used #498 for flower petals; #319 & #320 for the stems and leaves. Lettering dark gray #645.
- Images should be about 4 x 4-inches to fit a 6.5" quilt block.
- To get the image: RIGHT CLICK to save it as a file, or for size options--LEFT CLICK to flickr and choose the 'all sizes' option link.
- If you are visiting for the first time, and/or just starting this project, you can download the original stitch guide and color chart here as a PDF:
