I picked all the Winter Sunshine sweet peas that were blooming in the working greenhouse today, but decided against using them as the main focus of today’s vase, partly because I was so enamoured by Pimpinella major ‘Rosea’ which was flowering for the first time. Using the latter as my starting point, the flowers were quickly joined by a lost-or-buried-label astrantia, a similarly unknown heuchera and fluffy bunny tails Lagurus ovatus, all picked from the main borders, They were then joined in a simple. slim, deep purple vase by the lightest pink of the sweet peas to create a gently pleasing offering for IAVOM. The sheer pinks of the contents demanded something equally pink and sheer, and hence the inclusion of my dressmaker’s pinking shears…
A simple vase to start the week, but no less pleasing for it. As for last week’s tulips, they provided colour and form and interest for a full seven days – you can’t ask for much more than that. If you would like to join us with an equally simple vase or something more complex, please do so by leaving the usual links to and from this post.
Rambling in the Garden 
So clever, the colours all go together so well.
Thanks Rosie – not difficult to find pink here at this time of year!!
What a delightful vase.
Did you grow the Pimpinella major ‘Rosea’ from seed?
I looked it up and some sources say it needs full sun and well drained soil – which I do not have! – but other sources say it can be in partial shade and happy in any soil type.
No, it came as a plant, Sandra. Anna gave me a plantlet one year which I managed to kill off and I was determined to replace it at some stage, which I now have done. It is in one of the main borders so is probably well drained but only partially sunny. I am exceedingly pleased with it so far, but have no idea how long it will keep on blooming
Thank you Cathy, I could try it in a big pot. I guess it will have a tap root so probably needs a good downward root run.
Worth checking that out, then…
Very elegant.
Thanks Jude
I love the Pimpinella, and can imagine it growing, mixed in with the Queen Anne’s Lace that grows in abundance here. I also have a purple vase today!
https://wp.me/p50zvt-2Ul
Yes – and there is actually a pink version of Queen Anne’s Lace that you can grwo from seed, in the UK at least
I adore pink and your pinks are perfect….each shade working with the other to make this enchanting vase. I too love the Pimpinella. Gorgeous! My vase is another store bought with these cooler days still. But I think soon we may have more buds flowering. https://gardenseyeview.com/2023/05/22/a-wee-herbal-garden-still-remains/
Lots of pinks to choose from in the late spring garden here, Donna – hope you are blessed with more opening buds soon!
Pretty pastels this Monday. I am also enamored with the Pimpinella, totally new to me. The layout with the long vase and shears is marvelous. I have two pairs of pinking shears and have never pinked anything! Thank you for hosting, here is my vase https://theshrubqueen.com/2023/05/22/in-a-vase-on-monday-plumb-wonderful/
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The Pimpernella is really pretty Cathy. Not sure I have ever seen one before. 😃 And I just love the Astrantia and all the others delicate pinks you have used. A clever prop again! Here is my vase for today. (Looking and feeling rather summery. 😃) Thanks as always.
I hope the pimpinella will continue to perform well in future years as already it is a great asset to the border it is in.
What a lovely mix. The colors are perfect together and the flowers seem quite compatible. Pimpernella is new to me. My first grade teacher had pinking shears that once in a great while we were allowed to use; although I don’t need any I think I’ve always wanted some! Thanks for hosting Cathy! ❤️
The pinking shears seem a useful thing to have, even if they are rarely used – in the ‘old days’ I am sure we had more reasons to use them although I can’t really remember what for
I think the teacher brought them out for a lacy border on valentine cards.
WE certainly used them in sewing, as it is meant to stop fabrics fraying (sometimes)
The Pimpinella is new to me and I love it. Its form reminds me of Daucus carota ‘Dara’ but its color is a warmer pink. It blends beautifully with its companions. My sweet peas are still being unusually stingy with their blooms, although I gave some to a friend and have a fresh batch on my kitchen island. They may be a relative loss this year due to the limited sun exposure and humidity that accompanies our persistent marine layer. It started in April (and has been given the name “Graypril”), continued into May (“May Gray”) and looks like it will accompany us into the next month (“June Gloom”) if not beyond. However, even without sweet peas, I’ve got plenty of flowers: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2023/05/in-vase-on-monday-joy-even-if-brief.html
We hadn’t had a lot of sun for the early part of May but have finally had some lovely sunnuy days over the last week sor so, so things are getting a later than usual boost – now need a bit of rain! It’s hard to comprehend what it must be like living through a good three months of the marine layer you describe
Funnily enough I bought a pimpinella at a plant fair yesterday Cathy as mine disappeared some time ago. It is similar to chaerophyllum but the pink is a different shade and the foliage completely different. The latter flowers earlier too. The pimpinella goes so well with the astrantia, sweet peas and furry tails – a lovely frothy concoction. No vase from me today – have been carried away with planting out 😂
Short-lived then, do you think? Which is the better plant?
Well those are serious pinking shears and the pink flowers are seriously pretty. Maybe some of my peony will be a pretty pink as well as the dahlias….Nothing in bloom yet.
Hopefully soon, Beverley – you seem to have had your fingers crossed for a long time?
I haven’t given u but things are slow.
Lovely pinks! I have an abundance of pinks in the garden now also. I will be posting my bouquet shortly. Thanks for hosting.
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https://threepsandq.com/2023/05/22/phloral-arrangement-roses-in-pinks/ Here’s Mine…will be visiting your bouquets.
Very pretty arrangement, Cathy. Pimpinella major ‘Rosea’ is very attractive.
I am certainly enjoying its presence, but need to try and stake it
I love your blend of cool pinks, Cathy–it’s not always my favorite color for other uses, but it’s wonderful for flowers! The Pimpinella was a lovely place to start.
I think one of the uses of pinking shears is to cut a fabric edge so it won’t ravel–not quite so necessary in these days of fancy stitching machinery at home!
I have a very simple vase for today as things really are slowing down here. I did have some tea rose buds to use though! 🙂
https://smallsunnygarden.substack.com/p/simply-summer
I was thinking that too about why the pinking shears might have gone out of fashion! 😉 And I wouldn’t wear pale pink, but a nice strong dark pink or cerise would be more my thing
Well, I’m about the 8th person to say the Pimpinella is beautiful new to them, lol. I love this combination!
Thanks Tracy
tee hee, . . . bunny tails. Are those the same bunny tails that were popular as dried flowers in the 1970s?
Quite probably, Tony – Flower arranging of any sort wasn’t on my radar in the 70s
I can remember when we were little kids, we painted bits of driftwood with watercolors, and glued dried flowers such as this to them. Apparently, that was cool.