Nigella, Love-In-A-Mist

Day 289: Although most of the plants in my flower beds are perennials, I like to fill in the open spots with annuals in order to have the freedom to "change it up" a bit each year. Invariably, though, there are a few stragglers from previous year, having re-seeded themselves before I could dead-head or remove pods. There have been a few I wished I'd never planted, and marigolds springs immediately to mind. As much as I love them, I was pulling marigolds for years as they cropped up in unanticipated spots. Likewise, I seem to have permanently installed tall yellow snapdragons when the dark red short ones I'd hoped would re-seed are slowly dying out, and never, ever again will I plant Lobelia in anything but a hanging basket. On the other hand, there are some faces I welcome each year, despite their visits coming as something of a surprise. One of these is Nigella, which bears the charming common name of Love-in-a-mist. I presume the "mist" portion of the nomenclature comes from the ferny, lacy foliage which surrounds the flowers, leaves which dry to a wiry state to become a basket for balloon-like maroon-and-cream seed pods. The pods are lovely in a dried arrangement, and hold their colour for months, but I always leave a few in the garden to assure more Love-in-a-mist next year.

Love-in-a-Mist

Day 293: My poor garden is getting heat-stressed. Although today is a bit cooler, the last two weeks' temperatures have hovered between 85-95 degrees and despite being watered, even the most drought-hardy plants are feeling the effects of the dry spell. I recorded a pitiful 0.20" of precip for the month of July. Because I rely on a well for household water, I try to plant drought-tolerant species so that I can be sparing with the hose. Fortunately, Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) has endured practically anything Nature has thrown at it, re-seeding itself to provide flowers again next year. The pods turn a warm brown when dried, retaining the reddish-purple markings. They're lovely for dried arrangements or...oh, yeah, last year's are still hanging from the lantern chandelier in the east end of my kitchen.

Garden Lace

Day 272: If you've ever grown Nigella, you'll understand where it came by the common name of Love-in-a-mist. The flowers are enfolded by a lacework of fern-like leaves which curl even more tightly around the seed-pods as they mature and swell. A delight for dried-flower enthusiasts, the red markings on the pods last for years. Nigella may be left in the garden to self-sow, or if you have pods left over from arrangements, crush them and toss the seeds into your garden in the spring. Even after two years, some seeds will retain their viability. There's no reason to be without Love-in-a-mist!