For the gardeners

Beyond digging holes, pulling weeds and wishing the person who introduced Mondo grass to this neighborhood would be plagued by fleas from Hell, my gardening skills are indifferent. At best. But I like plants, so I try. One thing I’m learning is to be careful about planting invasives. For example, butterfly bush, AKA buddleia. I love the dark purple one with an orange eye. However, it’s an invasive and the local extension says don’t plant it, even if it is marketed as sterile.

So that was a bummer. But a few days ago I received an email from a nursery about false indigo. I nearly ignored it because I thought it was about this false indigo, the only pea flower I don’t like. The plant always looks fake to me, even if I see it sticking out of the soil and covered in bees.

This false indigo is also called indigo bush. It is a native plant that gardeners suggest as an alternative to butterfly bush. It is a member of the legume family, like false indigo. But indigo bush is far more interesting than the other false indigo or butterfly bush. And unlike butterfly bush it provides more than nectar. It is a host for several butterfly larva and bobwhite quail eat the seeds.

Plus, each flower is one petal rolled into a tube. And check out those saucy stamens.

Finally, the NC Extension calls it a “tough plant for a tough place.” That increases my hopes it will survive my sub-par gardening skills. And the fact walnut trees have been nuking this yard for decades.

What’s growing in your garden?

People who post off-topic comments smell like squashed ginkgo fruit.