Tightly packed petticoats of petals burst from buds that seem too small to hold such luxuriant flowers. Stitches of cherry-red embroider the creamy gathered petals for an overall soft color effect. In the 18th century, this antique type was celebrated as equal to carnations, a favored flower of that time. Earlier, in the 17th century, they were the poppies of celebrated Dutch and Flemish flower paintings.