List of articles
- The Article Section
- Brian Yates Living Diary
- Keith Mastaglio Living Diary
- Plant Pots
- 50 years on
- Is this a sport?
- Brian Yates home page
- Cuttings by Brian Yates
- The International Dianthus Register and Checklist
- Look-alike Laced Pinks
- Early Cuttings
- Carnations - Beginners Guide
- Trailing Carnations
- A smell, a fragrance.
- HOW TO GROW PINKS.
- Hotbox Sulfume
- "Letter from Allwoods"
- Daily Sudoku Puzzle
- Alliance, Ohio, The Carnation City
- Wanted Yearbooks
- Wanted Border Carnations
- Members Own Tips
- Christmas Day Pinks
- A Visit to John Barrington’s Nursery
- Request for help from New Zealand
- Favourite Buttonholes
- Dianthus and Climate Change
- Scented Carnations
- Carnations and Capricorns
- Early recollections of dianthus
- Carnations and Beans by Graham R Davis
- Flowers for the Cutting Garden
- Erin Mitchell
- Gary Hammerton in Spain
- John Lewis Store Peterborough
- Carnation Fever Hits Fashion World
- Cake recipes from the AGM
- Brian Yates does it again!
- Garden News
- evergreen4ever
- Christmas Carnations
- Annual Carnations.
- PF Trials report by Peter Booker
- The Story of the Carnation
- Vandalism of the polytunnel
- The Gardening Apprentice
- Above and beyond the call of duty
- A visit to Eileen Galbally
- Blue Carnations in Hastings
- Breeding new pinks by Sue Russell
- Old Crimson Clove Border WANTED
- Profile of Wallace William Manley
- The Legendary Malmaison
- A Brief Overview Carnations and Pinks
- My Trip to Allwoods by Brian Yates
- My Way With Hormone Rooting Powder
- Valentines Day Carnations
- Calling Dianthus Enthusiasts around Evesham
- Labels
- Carnations a Personal Perspective
Carnations and Capricorns
Whilst browsing through a selection of books for sale at my place of work, I casually spotted a very pretty ‘Birthday Book’, which I decided to have a closer look at. Inside the back cover was a list of flowers assigned to birth signs. I had never been aware of this before, but then I am not an avid fan of horoscopes! But my attention was drawn to the fact that the carnation is the flower associated with Capricorn.
Those born in the depths of winter have a link with dianthus! Of course, realistically in our part of the world, the only carnation in flower is the perpetual flowering carnation. Of course, in the southern hemisphere, dianthus could be in flower in their natural habitats, and I imagine that those in New Zealand and Australia would have some pretty pinks flowering in their gardens at this time of year.
The star sign Capricorn is symbolised by the goat, and it covers birthdays from 23rd December until 20th January. This encompasses all the Festive Season and the New Year. It makes it even more appropriate to use carnations at this time of year, especially as they can be excellent in floral displays, carnations being readily available in Christmas colours of red and green. I myself, love the combination of red carnations with variegated holly, finding an arrangement in a huge vase looks spectacular and last through all the festivities.
So, the festive season is now long over, but perhaps one could still link Capricorn and Carnations at any time of year. All dianthus petals are edible, and make a spectacular garnish for food. I hesitate to recommend goat curry adorned with petals (cannot quite bring myself to try it), but since I adore goats cheese, would imagine the beautiful petals of a carnation or indeed a whole flower could adorn a cheese board. I have frosted petals before in sugar. To do this, whisk an egg white until frothy, dip the petal in with a pair of tweezers, and coat in caster sugar, shaking off excess. Leave to dry in a warm dry atmosphere, an airing cupboard is excellent. They will last a good day, and are lovely to eat if you have a sweet tooth, although I would do them for decorative value alone.
So, if you have a friend or family member with the birth sign of Capricorn, you can either buy them a bunch or carnations for their birthday, or if they love gardening, buy some dianthus plants!
Alexandra Dennison