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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 53 "By way of a metaphor, in e world of fine cooking, ere are many inexpensive cuts of meat at are often treated wi disdain but which, in e hands of a good chef, can be rendered into some of e most exquisite and de cious meals. e key is in e prepara on, e context and e accompanying ingredients." — David Dahlson foliage was removed, and each stem was placed into a water tube and then wired to the Magnolia branches in profuse abundance. e context of exceptionally large Magnolia boughs in a luxurious setting allowed for the visual splendor to create an allusion of expensive and charismatic springtime blossoms. "Flowers often referred to as 'budget-friendly blooms' include Chrysanthemum, Alstroemeria, carnations, Hydrangea, Hypericum and waxfl owers," Dahlson notes. " ese fl owers are all available year-round, the prices are always reasonable, and they exhibit excellent longevity. ese same attributes make them popular in supermarket fl ower departments, but their ubiquitous nature means they are often met with disdain by consumers looking for something elevated and distinctive. To infuse these blooms with a fresh look, it is necessary to do some prep work and editing of the product to highlight their more beautiful attributes." DIAN US / CARNA ON, SPRAY CARNA ON, PINK Carnations are fabulous options because they are long lasting and are now available in a range of amazing colors and bicolors, making them much more interesting and exciting to work with. Beth O'Reilly, AIFD, CFD, TMF, a well-known fl oral designer and product development manager for Dutchess Bouquets, a Miami, Fla.- based supplier of fresh cut fl owers to national retail chains in the United States and Canada, has taken a deep dive into the world of carnations, studying, designing with and testing numerous Dianthus varieties from Dutchess Bouquets' farm in Colombia. "Carnations are one of our specialties," O'Reilly says. "Our partnership with SB Talee, one of the most prolifi c breeders in the world, gives us a constant infl ux of the most beautiful colors and varieties. I have always loved carnations, but being on this side of the growing process gets me really excited for the possibilities of Dianthus and what they can do to elevate modern fl oristry and design. Gone are the days of carnations being second best. e varieties on the market today are defi nitely showstoppers." is past March, during "Dianthus Week 2023" in Colombia, SB Talee debuted more than 20 spectacular new varieties of carnations and spray carnations for the world to see. "What's exciting about this is that after fi ve years of breeding a new variety, a brand-new fl ower is born," O'Reilly enthuses. "It is a constant breeding cycle, and the carnation, as we know it, just keeps evolving and transforming every year." According to O'Reilly, there are so many reasons why these venerable fl owers should be celebrated. ey are aff ordable, recognizable and lend themselves to so many design applications. ey can be focal fl owers or fi ller fl owers, or they can stand alone. ere's no limit to what you can do with these timeless fl owers. Carnations can be terraced, clustered, massed and color-grouped, and they are great for basing. "Abstracting" carnations is popular technique, where a designer will remove the center portion of petals to dramatically change the look of the fl ower into what appears to be a completely diff erent bloom. Also, carnations can be used in combination with the most premium fl owers, such as peonies and Dahlia, or as companions to other mainstays, including Chrysanthemum and roses. O'Reilly mentions that color is one reason why she loves to design with carnations. "You can create gorgeous layers that give a fantastic, lush and abundant look," she informs. "With all the new complex-hued varieties, it's easy to create a modern and sophisticated color palette, full of

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