Garden Spot - Celebrity Plant of the Month - Blue Wild Indigo - April 2009

Celebrity Plant of the Month is Baptisia australis, or Blue Wild Indigo.

This native perennial is considered a "cut-back" shrub, meaning that it fills a shrub-sized space in the summer garden, but dies back after the first hard frost. It has delicate blue-green foliage and beautiful indigo blue, pea-like flowers that bloom on tall spikes in June. When in bloom, the flowers attract butterflies; once the flowers fade, black fruit pods are formed, adding another dimension of interest to the late summer garden. These pods are often used in dried flower arrangements. Plant Baptisia in a spot that has good drainage, full sun or part shade, and plenty of room for its 3' to 4' height and 3' width.

Gardening Tip of the Month: Forget the phosphorus!

As Village residents gear up for the new growing season, they or their landscape contractors will be applying fertilizers to lawns and planting beds. All fertilizer packaging displays a series of three numbers, such as 10-10-10. These numbers indicate the percentage of the three macronutrientsnitrogen/phosphorus/potash-which most fertilizers contains, and always in that order. While all plants require these nutrients to complete their growing cycles, our soils contain sufficient amounts of phosphorus to supply them with their seasonal dose. In addition, the excess phosphorus, which the plants do not use, percolates through the soil and into the groundwater, polluting fresh water resources. Phosphorus free fertilizers are readily available from many wholesale and retail garden supply centers. The Village is requesting that all residents contact these suppliers or direct their landscape contractors to find and use fertilizers that are phosphorus free.

By eliminating an unnecessary fertilizer chemical, everyone can contribute to better water quality. Remember: the middle number on the fertilizer packaging should read "0"!