In the pink

dianthus - "Bath's Pink"  (cheddar pink)

 According to Collins dictionary, the color pink is named after the flowers called "pinks", in the genus Dianthus. The name derives from the frilled edge of the flowers. Have you ever used pinking shears?  They cut in a kind of zigzag, like the jagged edge of the dianthus.  The word "pink" was first used in the 17th century (OED online).  Pink is thought of as a feminine color, but that has not always been so.  Think about Valentine's Day and you see why pink is called "the color of love".

Lenten Rose (helleborus orientalis) are still hanging on although the blooms have faded in color.

Winter gave way to Spring with the pinks of hellebores, camellias, flowering cherries, redbuds, crabapples, pink tinged daffodils, tulips, flowering almond, and creeping phlox.  Now spring is in full force with pink abounding.

George Tabor azalea

Pink is such a spring color.  It is very easy on the eyes - it doesn't "pop" or glare.  I find pink to be a very soothing color and look forward to the shades of pink in my gardens every spring.

 I didn't always love pink - not until I had a baby girl. I began to see pink in a new light.  It's a sweet color that delights the senses and brings a smile to one's face.


 Pink blooms are like tiny ballerinas in their tutus, dainty and delicate!

cross vine "tangerine beauty"

These encore azaleas  were sold as purple, but look pink to me.

Would you call the color of the crossvine pink?  Maybe so.

knock out rose
  
As with most colors, there are many shades and names.  With pink the shades vary from nearly white to almost purple. There's coral, salmon, hot pink, blush, shocking pink, fuchsia, cherry blossom, and rose - to name a few.

gladiolus communis

rain lily (zephyranthes)

oxalis

weigela florida "wine and roses"

And the star of the pink show this time of year is this phlox that Gail at Clay and Limestone calls PPPP (Practically Perfect Pink Phlox pelosa).  Usual bloom time is mid-April, but Spring has been slow to arrive this year.  It has just begun it's reign.

As the PPPP gently blankets my gardens, I am anticipating the arrival of more pink blossoms: astilbe, hydrangeas, coneflowers, bee balm, spireas, and more.  Awww,  I'm tickled pink it's Spring!  Hope you are too.  Have a wonderful May Day celebrating the beauty of our earth!