I Love Surprises in My Garden

Rose Nigella Flower
@bagarad (14283)
Paso Robles, California
May 8, 2016 3:46am CST
I started for my yard with my camera this morning for my daily ladybug count, and while I was there I did my photo journal shots of the garden and plants as they are today. As I was doing that I saw a strange plant. I knew I'd seen the feathery leaves somewhere before, and I almost had pulled this as a weed a few days ago. Today I found this lovely rose color flower on the plant. After some research, I finally identified it as nigella. That funny thing on top of the flower is the seed capsule forming. It will, I hope, reseed and be back next year. I do remember planting it a couple of years ago, but I guess it didn't get enough water to germinate. Have you ever planted this flower or seen it in other gardens?
11 people like this
14 responses
• United States
8 May 16
No, but it is very pretty. It's a bit odd looking too. Maybe that's why I like it.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
It does have a character all its own, doesn't it?
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 May 16
@ElizabethWallace You sound like me. Talking about them like they are people with different personalities.
2 people like this
• United States
8 May 16
@bagarad Yes. I love how plants and flowers can set a mood.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
8 May 16
The leaves look quite familiar but I don't have any idea what that flower is.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
8 May 16
@bagarad good that you have a reference book or you'll go all crazy
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
@toniganzon Sometimes the internet helps, but you usually have to know the name of something to look it up. I have a good collection of field guides in book form.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
When I don't know, I go crazy until I find out. I'm glad my flower book had it listed. It had all the flower photos grouped by color.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471601)
• Switzerland
8 May 16
I have nigella in my garden, it spreads easily and there are several different colors: most commonly different shades of blue, pink, or pale purple but I also see some white.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
I like flowers that spread as long as they are easy to pull. Nigella add interesting texture.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 May 16
@bagarad I love the flowers that spread easily and quickly.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
12 May 16
@ramapo17 So do I. I use lots of perennials because they just keep going and I don't have to replant them every year.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
8 May 16
It's a pink 'love in the mist'. Normally they are blue.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
Right you are. You know its nickname. The first ones I saw were blue. I liked those, too, which is why I bought the seeds for these. I just forgot I'd planted them, The minute is saw they were nigellas, I knew where I'd seen them. I just didn't recognize them because they were pink, not blue.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
8 May 16
@bagarad They are really pretty and very light and ethereal.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 May 16
@bagarad Wow, how did you know that? Are they native to England?
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
8 May 16
hmm, i have not yet seen that flower anywhere here in my neighborhood.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
Maybe the climate isn't right where you are, but I don't know that.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 May 16
@bagarad I would think you would have a lot of them as you have the perfect climate for them. The first time I ever saw them was on the island of Abaco in the Bahamas. They come in many beautiful colors. That is what I love about most of the islands, all the colors of the beautiful plants.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
9 May 16
@bagarad yes, maybe that flower needs to be planted in certain areas or places in the world
1 person likes this
10 May 16
Good share Barbara. I am seeing the plant for the first time.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
10 May 16
I'm glad you like this little flower.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
11 May 16
@sathviksouvik Yes. I love to watch things grow.
2 people like this
11 May 16
@bagarad I know when you do gardening and your effort gives you new leaves or flowers there is huge satisfaction in mind.
2 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
9 May 16
I have never seen that before, but it's pretty. Maybe you could save some seed, just in case it doesn't reseed well?
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
9 May 16
I plan to do just that.
2 people like this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
8 May 16
It is my first encounter with a nigella flower. Thanks for the intro.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
I like any flower that reseeds itself.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 May 16
@bagarad I do to, it makes life a little easier.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (219112)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Jun 16
I don't think I've seen it.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
12 May 16
Is it upside down?
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
12 May 16
No, it's right-side-up. That's a seed capsule on top.
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 May 16
I never heard of this plant and I was in gardening for many years when I was working.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
11 May 16
Maybe it doesn't grow in your area or maybe you just haven't seen it. I hadn't ever noticed it until I saw it at the herb farm. There are so many flowers to choose from we can't possible know them all.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
11 May 16
@ramapo17 So do I. I wish I had the space and the time to plant all the flowers and herbs I love.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 May 16
@bagarad You are correct here. There are so many wild flowers and would take forever to know them all. But I always like finding out about new ones.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
8 May 16
I have never heard of nigella. So it is a plant you once planted and not a weed.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
Yes.I had planted it and waiting expectantly for it to come up but it didn't arrive when I'd expected it or the next year, either. So I forgot about it. I also thought I had planted it somewhere else in the garden. It's definitely not a weed.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
8 May 16
no, but my wife have collections of bougainvillea and gumamelas or hibiscus
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
8 May 16
I've never had any of those plants, but I've thought about it. I need plants that need little care and almost no water.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
9 May 16
@ilocosboy Maybe someday I'll plant one.
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
9 May 16
@bagarad gumamela and bougainvillea can stand the heat but you need to water them once in a while.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (77137)
• Germany
14 May 16
That's a beautiful flower. I don't think I have that in my garden. What's the name of that flower?
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 May 16
It's name is nigella.