“And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see — or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.” — Alice Walker

According to the last census, there are about 82.5 million mothers in the United States, and their special day is fast approaching (Sunday May 9th this year, 2010). Sending flowers for Mother’s Day in an arrangement or bouquet is always a popular choice, and the 23,000 florists in the United States report the run up to this day to be among their busiest of the year, with Mother’s Day flowers delivery keeping them on their toes.

But what are the best flowers for Mothers Day? Carnations are one of the most popular flowers, and practically perfect, as they send a message of love and gratitude. Other dianthus, such as pinks or Sweet Williams, carry the message of sweet, or heavenly, love. There’s a long tradition relating carnations with mothering in the Christian faith. This is the plant that is believed to have sprung up when the tears from Christ’s mother, Mary, fell to the ground, as she was weeping in distress at seeing her son enduring such terrible suffering at the time of crucifixion.

Mothering Sunday, in Europe, has existed since early Christian times, and there have been celebrations of motherhood dating back to prehistory. The modern Mother’s Day started in the United States in the early 20th Century, and it was also here that the carnation became again so closely associated with the celebration. It was chosen by Anna Jarvis, the most active proponent of Mother’s Day, because it was her mother’s favorite flower. Tradition suggests that you wear a white carnation to remember a deceased mother, while a pink carnation honors your living mother.

Click here to order this absolutely stunning pink carnation arrangement, from our favorite online florist, FlowersFast. We buy from them for the fresh-cut, long-lasting, high quality flowers with easy online ordering, competitive prices, and same day delivery. Order two arrangements, and wear one bloom in your button hole when you take Mom to lunch.

Originally posted 2010-04-27 22:01:58.