It is such a pretty flower. I have always enjoyed it. This has a multitude of interesting common names, one being Devil in the bush! But I won't go into any more today. It has been cultivated for over 400 years, and is native to Europe and Northern Africa.
I forgot I had these so I thought I would showcase them in one post. With a name like "Love-in-the-Mist" (Nigella damascena), you would think that there would be a more romantic origin story, but alas no such thing. It comes from the fact that the flower is nestled in a ring of multifid, lacy bracts.
"Multifid" you say? This would make a good word for the day. However, all it means is that it is divided into many parts. Okay!
"Bracts?" A modified leaf or scale, typically small, with a flower or flower cluster in its axil. Bracts are sometimes larger and more brightly colored than the true flower, as in poinsettia.
Axil you say? The upper angle a leaf stalk or branch and the stem or trunk from which it is growing.
Stalk you say? Just kidding, I have had enough of my refresher info for today. More proficient gardeners will have no need for this extra information, but for someone like me who needs a continuous refresher, it really helps me putting it all on my blog and is a good source to go back to when I need it.
Thanks so much for visiting and I hope your day is a great one.
They are stunning!!! Looking so exotic and gorgeous! I have seen them once before, but your photos make them look so much more impressive. Now I want to find some.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you Ginny, it was what I thought the first time I came across them :) and thank you so much for the sweet compliment. I think my first sighting was at Meadowlark Gardens but today I noticed them at Green Springs.
DeleteI love blue flowers for some reason, these are very pretty Denise.
ReplyDeleteBlue is a very pretty color, and thank you Margaret :)
DeleteLove-in-a-mist is one of my favourite flowers - so unassuming, so reliable, so generous in its self-seeding.
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely, it certainly is a beautiful flower and I didn't know about the prolific self-seeding. I'm going to have to put some in the garden :)
DeleteThey are very pretty. It is years since we have had them - an error I must rectify.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them Sue, I have my own error to correct. I have never thought of planting them until I saw these :)
DeleteThe 2nd shot has the special look I like
ReplyDeleteYes, I do love that one. Thank you roentare :)
DeleteOh my, these are stunning. I've never seen anything like them. What an interesting color they have too.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and there are more colors but I have only seen these cornflower-ish blue ones :) Apparently they come in white pink and lavender, which maybe is what these are.
DeleteWow, the flowers are beautiful. Take care, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eileen, much appreciated and you take care and enjoy your day also :)
DeleteThey are indeed very pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you Angie :)
DeleteWith a little imagination Love-in-the- Mist and Devil-in-the-bush could be one and the same!
ReplyDeleteYou are setting my imagination off now David :) I would really like to know who named these flowers in the first place. I bet there's a story there. I will have to keep my curiosity in check though, or I would be on the computer all day, ha!
DeleteVery pretty!
ReplyDeleteThey are aren't they? Thanks Linda :)
DeleteI'm with you, Denise! People can skim the info, but it helps me to remember when I write it out. You can think it through! Lovely flowers!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenn, I need all the memory joggers I can handle these days :)
DeleteBeautiful flowers, and the dog from yesterday was super cute!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Jim and Barb, thank you :)
DeleteWe call them Passion Flowers...really pretty!
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
That's a pretty name for them too, thanks Donna :) Sending hugs!
DeleteSuch a lovely flower! I like its name as well. Constant refreshing is needed here as well. Thank you for your information, my friend.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Martha Ellen. Glad you enjoyed! I am glad we are kindred spirits in the constant refreshing my friend :)
DeleteLove-in-a Mist is a lovely name. I wonder who thought of it as it's a perfect description for this pretty flower?
ReplyDeleteI agree Linda, I have always thought so :) I wish I knew the answer to your question. I've been pondering that one myself.
DeleteStunning blue flower.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Christine :)
DeleteI had never heard of them...they are absolutely gorgeous and so glad you showed them.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy I introduced them to you Rose. I remember how I enjoyed them the first time I saw them. Thank you!
Deletewhat a beautiful flower and love in mist...such a pretty name for it!!
ReplyDeletei'm so happy you were able to see the yellow car. that post was from a few days ago!! i only posted my favorite cars, there were so many more!!
DeleteAgree, thanks Debbie :)
DeleteI have to go back to your blog to your more recent ones. I tried to leave a comment on the day you posted about the cars but kept being told I had done my quota of messages and had to come back later. Later being today :) You did a wonderful job taking those photos, as you always do, but I truly fell in love with the yellow one.
DeleteUps! Sorry Debbie, I think I accidentally deleted your comment 🙁. It was the one where you were talking about those beautiful classic cars you posted about.
DeleteContinuing this, your comment disappeared completely, I checked the spam folder too. Then as I was checking my evening postings, and one more time in the spam folder, there was your comment, and I know it wasn’t there before. Blogger is very interesting right now. I wonder what the explanation is?
DeleteSuch an interesting bloom. I love blue flowers and don't see many. Hope you have a good day!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty blue, need to plant some of my own :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful flower.
ReplyDeleteP.S. What happened to your post about the short children's story? When I clicked on the link it gave me a message that the page does not exist.😢
Hi Sandra, yes it is. Sorry about the premature publication of my story. I still didn't know I had done that and appreciate you letting me know. I guess the bats were in the belfry that day, lol! The story is set up to be published tomorrow :)
DeleteThis is a beautiful bloom, Denise, and it reminded me at first of a cornflower, so thanks for the ID and information.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dorothy, glad you enjoyed :)
DeleteNice blue flowers. I did not know the word Multifid.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, it was new to me too :)
DeleteThis bloom is fantastic. I love the blue but also the green spiky center. I'm not familar with it but would like to be more so!
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely isn't it Jeanie? :) I discovered it through the garden several years ago and thought it was very special.
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