Carnations are the go-to flower for Mother’s Day and commonly symbolise maternal love. They are one of the most popular and well known flowers in the world, but there are hidden depths to this innocuous bloom. From ancient Greece to Bogota, from medicine to the kitchen table, the carnation has a rich and complex history that has informed its popularity for hundreds of years.  1. Carnations are called the ‘flower of the gods’  Did you know that Carnations were not always called that? The ancient Greek botanist, Theophrastus, originally identified carnations as dianthus which came from the words Dios, or...

Flowers have been a staple of both high and low culture for hundreds of years. From painters and poets to paupers and peasants, flowers have enchanted people from all walks of life. They are appreciated for their stunning beauty but also have been used in tinctures, beauty treatments, and teas. Accessibility, usefulness, colour, meaning and more will determine how a flower is perceived by the public. Here are five most commonly known flowers and a few things you didn’t know about them.  1. Roses After becoming the UK’s national flower, roses blossomed in popularity. In poetry, the rose is a...