Keep on keeping on Quossum!
Here's my first looks. Changing to monochrome is quite the adjustment, especially using the black as a background. I feel my Alternate blocks are pretty cool, nice 3D effect. The Stars of the Lupine Block get rather lost in comparison.
First picture shows the block as designed but with my color switches, that is a White (pink design) center. Some of my Black & White (blue design) do not have enough print and the centers get lost.
Second picture shows the same block but the center replaced by Gray (ok, is a black piece I turned inside out for comparison). I feel it helps bring in the Gray petals, swirling around the center instead of just being lost.
Third picture shows a random placement of blocks on top of the charcoal gray I am considering for the inner border and all the block centers. You can see it in the top row the center blocks and the edge.