Have you ever stared into the heart of a Carnation?

A little while ago I stumbled upon an absolute gem of a book: The Book of Flowers by Grace Kelly (Princess of Monaco).

From anecdotes where Clark Gable once famously asked a fan if they'd ever stared into the heart of a flower to Agatha Christie as a fan of all things violet from her utter weakness for violet cream chocolates to candied flowers, this book, given to my nan for Christmas, has been a real treasure trove for both me nan and I.

(And truly I am a fan... I can't even tell you the many times I've watched To Catch a Thief from the local library!!!)

While I was browsing it recently, looking for the herbal recipe for rosemary hair tonic, some pages fell out.

Lo and behold, they were the sum of a letter I had written to my nan and paps nigh on a decade ago. In them, this younger me detailed A LOT... A life's purpose, and mission statement and even burial plans with much tequila to be had by all and myself a die-hard organ donor. But what tickled me even more, singleton and happily so that I am, I had detailed my ideal wedding.

Back then, and still, I had been inspired so by my friends, Ross and Michelle, who had planned a last minute get together before their plane departed for an academic sabbatical in the states... Somewhere along the lines of 'Hey! We're getting hitched... Can you make this weekend?!" Michelle's dress was quickly whipped up by her own beloved nan (and her on the day tall and effortlessly gorgeous in this lavender straight up 1920's depression era throwback!)... They were hitched in court with a wee post-vow exchange in Michelle's mother's garden... Finally, the final party and feast had by all at their favourite hole-in-the-wall Portuguese restaurant. It was just It for me!

Reading my words to my grandparents from all those years ago, the romantic in me began to romanticise again... And it didn't help that Grace Kelly's book dedicates an entire chapter to bouquets....

My outfit, for the poor soul who might befall me... It's gotta be the dusky emerald green pure silk 90s two piece my nan wore to my uncle's wedding, shoulder pads and all... That's what I'm walking down the aisle with no doubt, my cousin doing the accompanying, my epic grandfather passed on now...

The 'rock' an art deco claddagh ring I plan to have made one day of a sapphire ring of my grandmother's she's given to me, with a gleaming black onyx heart in the middle to ward off the baddies... Only kidding... Not about the onyx. But the baddies... I'm all about the love!

But the flowers... Well...

Like Grace Kelly, I'm a sucker for pale cream and white pansies...

And it was awfully romantic when Queen Victoria married and for all the prestige, chose a tiny bouquet of snowdrops because they were the favourite of her love and betrothed, Prince Albert, a similar bouquet when he passed...

For all it is almost as much as fact that the 'golden apple' be the bitter orange that Jupiter bestowed upon Juno for her nuptials and I am utterly obsessed with neroli blossoms and would give my most useless appendage to possess the wreath of porcelain orange blossoms expressly designed and worn by (AGAIN!) Queen Victoria...

And for all my favourite flower just might be the purple tulip and for all in meaning and symbolism it infers a deep love, purple with royal overtones all the more perfect for a bouquet...

Even then no!

The red carnation has chosen me...

In mythology, a lover lost on a spiritual mission had his carnation blossom and lover's lock of hair returned to her. She mourned and never married and dedicated her life to caring in the hopes to restore the carnation... And she watered it, and cared for it, and watered it, and cared for it, until one day, and in devotion, suddenly one day, it appeared to peep out and when the flower finally opened, it was white but red at its centre where her lover had long ago bled.

Is that not truly beautiful? Tragic. But beautiful.

Beyond this, the red carnation symbolises romance, commitment and passion.

A red carnation combo of posy and hair wreath for me it's gotta be!

Not a bad combo in my books!

I also like to be a little unconventional and since red and green shall never be seen, except on the queen...! Well... A little cheeky, I thrive on combining green and red whenever the whim strikes!

But really, it is all because a talented artist friend gifted me a painting when we had barely met... Of a woman, with dark locks, in a red dress with a black bird on her bionic arm and a garland of red blooms in her hair and I always imagined they were red carnations. Depressed at the time, she gave me strength. Each and every day. In fact, he will never fully understand the depths from which she restored me, a powerful presence in my home. And marking me forever in love and indebted to the red carnation!

A little bit the underdog too, I love this flower, for its resilience, its vibrancy, its courage to go on, whether the royal flower in the palace of Grace Kelly's former reign or not.

I just love it.

Flowers and Red Carnation in Glass Vase by William Nicholson