May 4th, 2010
Nigella damascena
I mentioned that I love white Love-in-a-mist, Nigella damascena, for the way the flowers look like fallen stars caught in a mist in the meadow.
Last year Lancashire Rose gave me seeds for a double form she has. They began opening this week and they are just as enchanting but in an entirely different way. Some are solid and some are bicolor.
Nigella has the same growing habits and requirements as cilantro and larkspur. It is usually the last of the three to flower. For more information, see Zanthan Gardens: Nigella damascena.
by M Sinclair Stevens
May 4th, 2010
It is one of my favorites too!
May 4th, 2010
I love this! I recently planted one transplant from NG. With your great success, I’ll get seeds next fall.
May 4th, 2010
Those are so gorgeous! Great photos, too. I’ll need to add that to my “must have” list.
May 5th, 2010
Saw these (the blue variety) on a walk along Nickerson last week and didn’t know what they were; they remind me of cornflowers that got electrocuted. Maybe they’re simpler to grow in our heat too. My cornflowers have tended to topple over in the past. Will hope to remember to plant some nigella come November.
The spikiness of the flower is reminiscent of cornflowers. But make not mistake, love-in-a-mist is VERY floppy. However when it falls over the flowers are held up in the thread-like leaves. Unlike stiff-stemmed larkspur, cilantro, or cornflowers which look pitiful when they fall, love-in-a-mist creates a gentle wave. –mss
May 5th, 2010
I’m glad they did so well for you and I am glad you got some seeds of the pink one. I love them all but the pink one is quite special. The seed heads are also so pretty and I have a dried arrangement in the house. This year they are growing all over the place. Even in the veg. garden.
Renee’s Garden carries a double-pink variety of love-in-a-mist called ‘Mulberry Rose’. I grew some last year but planted it too late so only got a few small flowers. A couple came back this year. — mss
May 7th, 2010
Very pretty! So much to see in the flower beds this time of year.
May 11th, 2010
I had forgotten that Bachelor Buttons are such a great cottage garden flower. Your photos have inspired me to get a packet of seeds.
May 16th, 2010
They are enchanting.~~Dee