When Anna Jarvis championed the creation of Mother’s Day in the early 1900s, she needed a floral ambassador for the new holiday and conveniently found one already thriving in May gardens. The carnation earned her favor simply because it happened to be her late mother’s favorite bloom, a detail so specific that Jarvis handpicked white carnations to distribute at the very first memorial service in 1908. She later designated colored carnations for mothers who were still with us, sparking a botanical tradition that quietly evolved into the springtime florist rush we know today. It is a charming reminder that one of the calendar’s most celebrated family holidays actually owes its commercial bouquet culture to a simple, personal tribute that just happened to catch on at the right time of year.