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A little reason to celebrate

National Carnation Day

Nature · History · January 29

A look at the carnation, the ruffled, clove-scented flower found in bouquets, boutonnieres and gardens, and simple ways to enjoy it.

National Carnation Day falls on Friday, January 29, 2027. That is 94 days away.

Carnations are the ruffled flowers with the frilly, saw-toothed petal edges. They belong to the genus Dianthus, and many have a faint spicy scent that people often compare to cloves.

They are sturdy flowers. A carnation in a vase can stay fresh for a long time, which is one reason florists use them so often in bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. They come in a wide range of colors, from white and pale pink to deep red, plus striped and edged varieties that look hand painted.

The stems have swollen joints, almost like knuckles, and the leaves are narrow and gray green. In the garden, smaller relatives called pinks grow low and tidy along borders. The name pinks may come from the jagged petal edges, which look as if they were trimmed with pinking shears, though the history of that word is debated.

Enjoying carnations is easy. A single stem in a jar on the kitchen table works fine. To keep cut carnations looking good, trim the stems at an angle, strip any leaves that would sit underwater, and change the water every couple of days. Cutting just above or below one of those knobby joints helps the stem take up water.

People also like to look closely at a single bloom. Pull the petals gently apart and you will see how many are packed into one flower head, each one fringed at the tip.

Ways to celebrate

• Put a single carnation in a jar or bud vase at home.
• Give a carnation to a neighbor, friend or coworker.
• Look for pinks or other Dianthus plants at a local garden center.
• Sketch or photograph a carnation up close to study its fringed petals.
• Learn to make a simple boutonniere from one carnation stem.

Dates

All national days on January 29

Also on January 29

• National Puzzle Day
• National Corn Chip Day
• Kansas Day

Categories: Nature daysHistory days