Love in a mist

Love in a mist is the English name for this widespread cottage garden flower. The flower itself, usually blue, white or pink/purple is the "love" and the bracts that surround it are the "mist" that is more obvious when the flower forms a large clump that is seen from a distance. A single bloom more aptly shows off its alternate name, Devil in the bush. The plant's Latin name, Nigella damascena, describes one of its countries of origin, Syria. I find this plant a fascinating subject for photography (see here, here and here) and fortunately it grows quite readily in our garden.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Nigella seedpod

Of all the plants in our garden I find "Love in a Mist (Nigella damascena) to be one of the most fascinating. Its English name is descriptive of the appearance of these blue (usually) flowers when seen in a tight group, gently swaying in the wind. However, the spiky, other-worldly seed pod that the flowers produce are completely at odds with that soft, benign name: then one of the plant's other names - devil in the bush - seems more apt.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10