Carnations and Roses

My husband and I celebrated St. Valentine's Day a little early on account of Tuesdays being my night to teach CCD. 

He surprised me with dinner, chocolates, a ridiculous "Mr. Romance" doll, "Conversation Cards" and an awesome heart-framed photo of he and Vincent. 

For my part, I had gotten him a special dinner (which can't be made until Wednesday since he surprised me with dinner Monday - ha), Pocky candy (from when we had first started dating), and a movie he'd been wanting to see for a while (but he doesn't know that yet). 

For fun, after Vince went to bed, we decided to open the Conversation Cards.  One of the questions was "What is your favorite flower?"

John thought "Tulip" because that was a pet name he'd used for me on account of our enjoyment of the Preacher series (and subsequently through any RPG's he'd play via Nintendo). 

Tulips are nice and all, but they're not my favorite.  Carnations are my favorite.  I don't know if it's because I would get them all the time for Student Council stuff or what, but I LOVE carnations!  I think they're beautiful, soft, and smell so pretty!  Plus, they come in so many colors that you're bound to find something you love!

---

This conversation sparked a fond memory of an old co-worker.  She used to tease me about my choice of flower, chiding me for my lack of taste.  "They're weeds" she'd say.  "They're ugly."

Yet on Valentine's Day (or was it my birthday?), she got me carnations just the same.  Ha ha.

It's true - I think they're beautiful. 

Roses come in close second, though.  In fact, my favorite bouquet was a combination of roses and carnations.  I had gotten these from my brother after giving birth to Vincent. 

Don't get me wrong - roses are beyond magnificent.  They're beautiful and soft and also have a really pretty smell.  I just find carnations to be a more subtle, delicate beauty. 

Plus, I recently read that Christians believed that carnations first bloomed from the tears of Our Lady as she wept for Jesus as He carried His Cross.  Roses may signify Love, but carnations would certainly be the fruits of Love.

Lore aside, I love me some carnations, and I love me some roses.  Down in Virginia (while visiting you, Mary!) I snapped these photos of roses:

---

This one is brilliant.  I have no idea how they were able to marble the colors like this, but I found this rose to be the coolest thing I'd ever seen.  The deep red felt smoother than velvet and the creamy white looked like it was bursting forth from the sepal. 

Seriously, I still think this is the most incredible rose I've ever seen in person.  It smelled divine, too!

---

This is my favorite "rose photo" ever.  While pink isn't my favorite color for roses, these three just happened to settle in such a beautiful way that I couldn't help but fall in love.  I didn't notice until now how very Trinitarian they are.

These, too, were found outside the same flower shop as the one above.  However, these were more perfumed and seemed more delicate. 

I dunno if you can pick it up over the computer (with monitors picking up colors as they do), but that front rose had the slightest highlights of a whispered violet along the petal fringes.  These roses were actually part of a bush that I wanted so much to take home with me. 

Unfortunately, I have no green thumb whatsoever, so instead of sentencing it to a horrible death with me, I snapped this picture and prayed the bush found a home with someone who could care for it properly.

Ah well... sorry for the random floral theme today, but I couldn't help myself.  I wanted to share something of beauty with you all, and carnations and roses fit the bill.  :)

---