Blooms of Fate: Levi Lamborn, William McKinley, and the Rise of the Scarlet Carnation
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
April 8. 1859
Dearest reader,
On this day, the Ohio Legislature bestowed upon the charming city of Alliance the fitting title of the "Carnation City," heralded as "truly the home of Ohio's State flower."
This floral honor owes much to the untiring work and horticultural passion of Alliance's favorite son, Levi L. Lamborn, an amateur botanist, physician, politician, and local luminary.
The story begins in 1866 when Dr. Lamborn cultivated carnations from rare French seedlings in a greenhouse attached to his home, eventually propagating a striking scarlet variety he proudly named the "Lamborn Red."
Fate wove its tale more tightly in 1876, when Levi Lamborn ran for Congress against none other than his friend William McKinley. Before their debates, Lamborn would graciously present McKinley with a "Lamborn Red" carnation to wear on his lapel—a token that quickly became McKinley’s cherished good-luck charm.
Throughout McKinley's storied political ascent—from Congressman to Governor of Ohio, and ultimately to President of the United States—the scarlet carnation was a steadfast companion, adorning his coat at critical moments.
One poignant moment remains etched in history: at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, President McKinley, wearing his signature carnation, gave the flower to a young girl, Myrtle Ledger, saying,
"I must give this flower to another little flower."
Mere minutes later, fate took a tragic turn when McKinley was shot by an assassin, succumbing to his wounds days later. As his funeral train passed through Alliance, the tracks were carpeted with the vivid "Lamborn Red" carnations, a floral tribute from a grateful city.
The scarlet carnation was formally adopted as Ohio’s official state flower in 1904, described in the legislature’s resolution as a "matchless symbol of life and love." Alliance was later officially recognized as the "Carnation City" in 1959, and since 1960 has celebrated its legacy with a vibrant annual Carnation Festival each August.
Oh, dear reader, what garden stories swirl behind the blooms we cherish?
How often do flowers carry whispers of friendship, politics, and good fortune?
As the scarlet carnation blooms in gardens and hearts alike, may it remind us that even the simplest flower can hold a world of meaning.
