My 2020 Annual Flower Experiment

This arrangement includes:  Nigella, Dahlia, Zinnia, and Borage. 

Every year I try to grow something new.  This year's experiment included Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) and Borage.  Both have proven to be winners for putting in flower arrangements.   I've also added a few new varieties of dahlias (“Park Princess”, Bush ‘Cancun’, and “Melody Dora”) that have been producing blooms since mid-July.   All are represented in this bouquet. 

Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) is an old fashioned annual.  It's common name comes from the ‘misty’ foliage. It's easily grown from seed and if the seed pods are left, they will readily self-seed.   In my opinion the seed pods are more attractive than the flowers for arrangements. Deadheading will prolong flowering but will eliminate the attractive seedpods and any potential for volunteer seedlings.  

Borage, also known as starflower is a medicinal herb with edible leaves and flowers.  I use it as a filler in my flower arrangements.  The soft texture of the leaves and stems along with a delicate blue flower are a perfect compliment for other bright flowers.  It is easy to grow from seed and will also self-seed if not deadheaded.  

Both of these flowers attract pollinators so they are good additions to a garden insectary.  See this blog post from the North Country Master Gardener Volunteers on what is an insectary.  For more information on Love-in-a-Mist; the University of Wisconsin has a Garden Fact Sheet. 
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I have left some of both of these plants to go to seed and am looking forward to seeing how readily they both self-seed.  However, I'm not going to take a chance; both will be on next year's seed order.