In The Pink

Dahlias for gratitude, dignity and pomp.

Snap Dragons symbolize dazzling but dangerous!

And how are you doing this fine spring day, my dears? Me?...I'm just fine, in the pink, you might say. In fact, I feel ensconced in pink--completely and utterly wrapped up in pink--here at Blooming Hill with all of the velvety, frilly and feminine shades from the first blush of an opening blossom to the dramatic mauve of an almost spent flower. It's a bucolic life here in plain view of the beautiful Blue Ridge and the varying shades of blissful pink flowers are adding a certain  "joi de vivre"  that is rather infectious and I am most certainly, as they say, "in the pink."

Pink Dogwood flowers for faithfulness.

Yoshino Cherry Tree

The pink dogwood tree, eager to join the pink party, awoke earlier than usual this year just in time to bid adieu to the cherry blossoms floating in the breeze like brooding butterflies making room for newborn green leaves. There is a lot of meaning tied up in these two tree beauties. The dogwood, although not mentioned in the Bible, is tied to Easter through legend and myth as a symbol of the death and suffering of Christ. The dogwood's blossom resemble a cross and the flower center's clustered fruit represents Christ's crown of thorns. The flowers' delicate, pink to reddish shade also reflects the remains of rust from the nails and blood mixed together on the hands of Jesus. On a different note, the cherry blossoms represent, especially in Japanese culture, the transience of life as to many people, cherry trees at their peak, resemble puffy clouds moving across the sky.   In the language of flowers from the Victorian Age cherry blossoms symbolize the power behind the feminine side of life through etiquette and delicacy.  They represent good fortune, love and happiness--definitely feminine qualities, don't you think?

Azalea blossoms convey romance.

Redbud flowers can be used as a mild astringent.

Clustered buds on the Korean Spice Bush symbolize new beginnings!

Peony Stems are even pretty in pink.

Saucer Magnolia blossoms mean sweet, perseverance.

Pot geranium, "White Nicole" blushes pink.

Ranunculus convey that someone is dazzled by your charms.

And then there are all of the pinks painted on petals and swirling through plants as if fairies landed on them briefly and then dashed away in fear of being seen too long in one place. All of these pinks, whether standing sweetly alone, clustered, bunched or bouquet-ed together, are enjoying their moment in the sun and on center stage before the royal blues, princely purples, magnificent reds and opulent oranges begin to horn their way into the changing landscape of the gardens and overshadow pink's purity.

Tulips and Cherubs.  Varigated colors stand for pretty eyes.

Literally swathed in pink, springtime flowers happily share their place in the gardens even though they are a bit delicate in the fluctuating temperatures yet, they give off a healthy glow of cheerful joy, gaily calling other flowers and plants out of their long winter's sleep--or in the case of this year, maybe a light snooze that was just to good to awake from until now.   To make them even more compelling, these shades of pink are frolicing along with angels dancing in and out of the gardens who brush up against the flowers, releasing their soft, sweet scents.

Tuscan Apple Tree blossoms conjour up tempting thoughts.

Kwanza Cherry Blossoms

Azalea Bloosoms about to open.

Million Bells (Calibrachoa) love their cousin, the petunia.

Lemon Scented Geranium, the first to bloom in the green house stand for something unexpected --a surprise!

Pink is on parade and perfectly placed all over the place!  Even P. Lorenz's spring wreaths are popping puffs of pink and blush that highlight his signature eucalyptus creations.  I love pink!  It's such a happy color to welcome spring into the neighborhood and to let everyone know that all is just dandy on this fine spring day.