Postal stamps: flowers - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 2008 - 25 Euro Cent

The long-term stamp series "Flowers" draws people's attention to the beauty and variety of flowers in gardens and nature in Germany with modern and at the same time timeless motifs. The colorful and atmospheric representations should help to rediscover and enjoy the little pleasures of everyday life that are often barely perceived in our hectic times. The current motif carnation was the result of a nationwide photo competition under the motto "Your flower - your brand", to which the German Post had called in September 2007. From almost 50,000 submissions, a panel of experts selected the photo sent by Mario Strasser from Wiesbaden. Their sweet scent and their variety of colors made the carnation one of the most popular garden plants as early as the 16th century. It became the symbol of Mary the Mother of God and the workers' movement. Their name derives from "negel" or "negelkin", so nail, and was originally for the clove, whose dried flower buds remind of small nails. The original provenance of the carnation is probably the Mediterranean. Currently, more than 30,000 carnations are known worldwide.