The very pink of perfection *
I wanted to use the pretty pale pink hawsbeard, Crepis Rubra, in my Monday vase this week; grown from seed, this ‘pink dandelion’ is flowering profusely in the cutting beds and in bud elsewhere so I picked a number of stems as a starting point, conscious as I did so that this is one of the flowers that has a definite going-to-bed-time, as I discovered after following up a comment on Allison the Frog End Dweller’s blog. On Sunday evening as I write, however, they are still open although looking a little tired.
Joining the crepis are a number of other pink pretties: the palest of the Winter Sunshine sweet peas, a flowering heuchera stem, phuopsis, Limonium ‘Pink Pokers’ (rat tail statice), pink stamens of Astrantia ‘Buckland’ and some self-seeded dangly Briza maxima for movement and a touch of greenery – popped into one of my many Caithness Glass vases, together they form a sweet confection that will bring me no end of pleasure over the next few days. Accompanying them is a tactile piece of rose quartz, the base in its natural state and the top cut and polished into a six-sided point.
As spring morphs into summer in the northern hemisphere it is an exciting time on In a Vase on Monday as the number of blooms expands exponentially, making a decision on our vase contents harder – or is it easier? I hope some of you are able to make such a decision today and that there will be lots of vases to share with our readers – just leave links to and from this post.
*from ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ by Oliver Goldsmith
Rambling in the Garden 
Pink perfection indeed. So pretty. I’ve rambled on this morning but joining you https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
Thank you, but rambled on? Physically or verbally?
Verbally
It’s raining here this morning but luckily we just had three marvelously warm, sunny days that encouraged many perennials to open, leading, as you say, to hard decisions! The quartz is a nice touchstone for the hues in your vase – beautiful pinks!
https://countygardening.wordpress.com/2019/06/10/in-a-vase-on-monday-irisssss/
Glad you have had some good days to boost flowering in your garden, Chris.
You always teach me something Cathy—this morning it’s Crepis Rubra. Lovely soft pinks and nice textures in your vase. Mine is mostly pink today too—I like the delicacy and subtlety of yours better. Thanks for collecting our vases here each week. https://pbmgarden.blog/2019/06/10/in-a-vase-on-monday-fragrance-and-pink-petals/
Thanks Susie. Chloris and Christina saw the Crepis rubra in the wild in Italy recently! It was so easy to grow and I think it will become one of my regulars
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A beautiful collection of pinks. The Crepis is new to me but looks very pretty. There are several things I like to put in a vase which close up in the evenings. Also others which pump out the perfume. I usually have several vases on the go at this time of year, mostly with things just plonked in as they come to hand. There is so much to enjoy. Thanks for sharing and encouraging.
Oops, here is my link: https://ablogaboutcompost.blogspot.com/2019/06/snippings-in-vase-on-monday.html
Thanks Alison – I will monitor how well the crepis does in a vase. I would happily make more vases, but I haven’t really many clear spaces to put them – perhaps I should have some more elaborate vases for my open days, instead of just a few sweet peas and a bit of greenery on each table…!
Hi all,
Happy Monday!
Cathy, how do you have sweetpeas in flower already – were they an autumn sowing, are you that gosh-darn organised??? 🙂
That pink dandelion is a cracker, and it’s new on my wishlist.
Here’s my selection for the week. https://doingtheplan.com/2019/06/10/roses-in-a-vase-on-monday/
Jen x
Haha – they were autumn sown, but an early flowering variety too, grown in the greenhouse. I do autumn sow outdoor ones too but they never do especially well, and I think I will start sowing them in early spring instead, Glad to have introduced you to the crepis!
Pink perfection is right. Lovely!
Thanks Laurie!
I think Chloris and I saw Crepsis growing wild in Puglia, I thought then it might make a suitable cut flower annual.
Yes, Chloris mentioned it at the time and having already sown it from seed I especially noted it in her post. It doesn’t grow quite the same way here, not as tall perhaps? (can’t remember). Glad to read elsewhere that you are enjoying your visitors and presumably your garden too if you have been making lots of vases!
What a fantastic mix, Cathy. I remember admiring that Limonium last year and will have to look into whether I can hunt down some seed as I’ve never seen the plant in garden centers here. I tried growing Astrantia ‘Buckland’ last year but it ducked underground never to be seen again. Thanks, as always, for hosting. Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2019/06/in-vase-on-monday-in-remembrance.html
I tried several limonium from seed last year and this one didn’t do well for me, but I was persuaded to try again and having some spare seed I am glad I did as it has been a doddle to grow this year!! Shame about your astrantia – I love them all
Oh what perfect and pretty pinkosity Cathy. As far as aware I’ve not come across crepsis before so must investigate. I must also have another go at growing that limonium. It’s so attractive. I’ve tried twice and both attempts stuttered at the small seedling stage. When did you sow the seed? My vase nearly didn’t happen but a potentially fatal accident was averted at the last minute 😱 It is here: https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2019/06/in-vase-on-monday-tragedy.html
Pinkosity!! Love it, Anna! You will see the crepis in real life soon, and the limonium too. Interestingly, I couldn’t get past the seedling stage on this limonium last year either, but was persuaded to try again and had spare seed so had nothing to lose, and everything went perfectly this year – sown 2/2, pricked out 26/2, potted on 23/4 and planted out 16/5 ( records are useful!). Potentially fatal accident…? Hope it refers to a plant and not you…
Thanks for the low down on your sowing dates Cathy. Maybe I will have another go next year 🙂
I usually try things (seeds and plants that is) at least twice before I decide they are not worth the effort, although some things I will persevere with for longer
Just lovely!!
You are pretty in pink today. Yes, Christina and I did see it growing wild in Puglia in April, and what is unusual is that the flowers looked larger than the cultivated one I grew from seed last year. I love your sweet peas.
Thanks Chloris – I knew you said there was something different about the crepis, so thanks for reminding me. The sweet peas have been glorious this year, unlike my outdoor ones which are struggling – I will sow the latter in early spring next year instead of autumn
Your arrangement is quite perfect…and pink! And the vase just right, the very pink of perfection…couldn’t be better. Here’s mine: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2019/06/in-vase-on-monday-choices.html
Thanks Noelle – I knew before I rooted in my vase cupboard that ones of these Caithness ones would be just right, and so it was!
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Very pretty Vase today Cathy. I grew the white crepsis last summer and it flowered for 3 months. Very wet and windy here. But luckily I took one photo during a break in the weather. it’s so dark, no more can be taken. So I’m finding it harder than winter to provide my vase https://bramblegarden.com/2019/06/10/in-a-vase-on-monday-10th-june-2019/
Ah, that’s interesting to read – the length of flowering and that there is a white variety too. And the weather is definitely unlikely anything we have had here this year so far!
Cathy I love your vase in pink. The Sweet Peas are wonderful. I really like the Crepis Rubra and the phuopsis. I love the rat color statice. The Astrantantia is divine. I love all the flowers in your beautiful vase. And the rose quartz is wonderful. Greetings from Margarita.
Thanks Margarita – when I picked the separate blooms I was not sure how well they would work together, but I agree that they do look pretty
All the flowers you chose are divine together. Cathy you have great taste making bouquets, you are exceptional. My sincerest congratulations. Greetings from Margarita.
Thanks Margarita, but usually just popping things in a vase gives a pleasing result
Very pretty pinks, Cathy. I like the pink dandelion – very pretty and a plant I could grow without being accused of harbouring weeds. We were both thinking pink this week though that isn’t surprising for me – I returned from holiday to find my that garden is full of pink flowers right now. Here’s my link: https://silverscrappers.blogspot.com/2019/06/in-vase-on-monday-think-pink.html
I am not yet sure if the crepis will have dandelion-type seedheads and if it will self seed, but I would be happy if it did (or perhaps not if the garden was filled with them!!)
Well, I left a comment at 7a this morning, but I guess it didn’t post. Anyways, I love the pink dandelion! I didn’t know there was such a thing. You are right about them closing up at night. When I made the bouquet with yellow dandelions, they closed up every night, and sometimes didn’t reopen. And they really are pretty flowers when you stop thinking of them as a weed. I’m sure the pink ones are even more darling. I’ll have to look for some. Does the foliage look the same as the yellow?
Just found it in spam, Cindy and unspammed it! It is ages since a genuine comment went in spam…sorry… The foliage is similar but much smaller – in fact the whole plant looks more dainty and feminine ! They don’t seem to close up in the same way inside, unless they just have a later bedtime…
https://customcomforts.blog/2019/06/09/this-weeks-bouquet-26/
Forgot to add my link: https://customcomforts.blog/2019/06/09/this-weeks-bouquet-26/
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Oh, how lovely Cathy! That really is pretty. I love the pink Crepis. Haven’t seen a pink one before. 🙂 Here is my summery vase for today: https://wordsandherbs.com/2019/06/10/in-a-vase-on-monday-old-favourites/
I really like it too, Cathy, and only came across it when I was ordering seeds from Chiltern Seeds and saw it there
Very pretty combination of flowers, Cathy. The Rat’s-tail Status is a nifty vertical accent!
My vase this week: https://wp.me/p3O3z4-2kI
This sprig of statice was the first to bloom, and the others are looking much straighter – this one was a bit hard to position!!
Oh my word, yes pink perfection, it is! Not just the flowers, and the vase, and the pink quartz, but also the lovely way you’ve arranged them. Bravo!
Aw thanks Beth – I don’t visualise an end result before I start, so it is pleasing when my assortment of blooms do end up looking ‘not bad’ when they are plonked in a vase!
Some of these are not easy to recognize. I had never heard of rat tail statice.