Pink flowers

In the language of flowers, pink speaks more softly than red, but no less clearly: it stands for affection, gratitude and tenderness — warmth without grand drama. The tone decides the message: delicate blush feels gentle, almost whispered, while strong pink and magenta come across as confident, cheerful and anything but timid.

The range of pink cut flowers is huge: pink peonies are the undisputed stars at the Veiling in May and June, and in spring ranunculus bring their densely petalled heads in every nuance from pale pink to coral. Add pink roses as a year-round staple, carnations in vivid pink, alstroemeria and, in summer, lush hydrangeas.

Pink is wonderful to tie in gradients: from blush through dusky rose to magenta you get a bouquet with real depth without needing a second colour. With white, pink turns romantic and light; with apricot and salmon it becomes modern and warm — and if you want contrast, set purple or blue against it, for instance with lilac or delphinium.

A note from the workbench that few people know: pink petals change tone as they open. Peonies, for example, often bloom noticeably lighter than the bud suggests — some varieties fade almost to white. That is why we select by variety and bud stage at the Veiling, so the bouquet still carries the intended colour on day three.