Nigella damascena is a wonderfully self-seeding annual that has been grown in English gardens since Elizabethan times. It is much loved for its sky-blue flowers (sometimes also white or pink) and its delicate ferny leaves. And of course, once the flowering is done, there are the strikingly odd sputnik seed capsules to admire. Though seen here in monochrome (with a hint blue), the flowers already have a distinctly alien look. I took this photo last night at the allotment. I have several self-seeded clumps around the vegetable plots, and they are just beginning to flower. It’s always good to mix things up like this, the flowers not only attracting the pollinators for the fruit and vegetables, but also, in the case of French marigolds, diverting crop pests. And talking of crops, or ones in the making, here’s a rather fine pea flower:
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge ~ flowers of any kind
Tish Farrell 
Ooh, I love that first, other-worldly, image!
It is otherworldly, isn’t it.
Most definitely!
I absolutely love this! 💕
Thank you, Lisa.
I’m with Sue! The blue tone is fabulous.
🙂
That leaf looks like velvet. Stunning.
Thank you, Tracy.
Welcome, Tish.
Love -in-a-mist is one of the paper flowers I enjoy crafting. I should look into growing some.
Ever so easy, Beverly. Most of these have grown themselves.
Wonderful photos 😀 Love them 😀
Thank you, Cee 🙂
I love the cyan coloration you gave them. I don’t usually like flowers in black and white, but this is really nice.
Many thanks, Marilyn. I almost think the reason it works has to do with the light reflected off the plants themselves. It somehow clicked with the slight blue tint.
That first one is especially wonderful, Tish!! I’m glad you didn’t post the color version. It usually makes it harder for me to enjoy the B&W as much.
janet
How lovely. I used to grow this plant in a cottage garden I once had. I haven’t seen it growing over here for years. I will look for some seeds next spring.
There’s a lovely Persian Jewels mix 🙂
I’ll look out for it.
The blueish tint is lovely as are these flowers. I have always loved their wonderful shape.
Their shape is very astonishing, isn’t it. Such complex little structures in the flowers, and then the seed pods to look forward to.
The first image is very special, Tish! Love it! 💖
Many thanks, Amy. I was using the b & w cyan setting on my Canon, which I had only just discovered, and then there was some good late day sunshine, and it all just seemed to work.
Very Recency era gothic-y. 😀
Once again you put your finger right on it 🙂
😀
Tish, this is beautiful. I love it
Thank you, Mak.