[Hamons]

I told VooDoo that I would hep her out with POTW duties.

This weeks plant is one of my "new" favorites. It is a perfect choice for neglected beds that need a little splash of color May through August.

Slow grower. The first year you plant it it tends to just sit there -- but it is growing a massive root system -- going down several feet. The second year it will look more impressive --- but the third year is when you will see the plant at its full beauty -- these plants are in their second year.

Any questions?

ANswer will be posted next Sunday.

[Hamons]

another

[Hamons]

last one PM your answers to me.

[VoodooChile]

PM sent
Voodoo's a guy btw, but I am willing to work with you on it.

[VoodooChile]

Another look at POTW40. PM Hamons with your reply before time runs out!!!

[Stonehenge]

lol - I think I see a resemblance, avatar to the previous post.

Great detail in that shot.

But I have no guess. I tried, but could not find anything similar in my references.

[Hamons]

Look here -- www.grownative.org

[Hamons]

Even with a good hint only a few got this one right.

VoodooChile
bcx400
alpenGlow
Trees
They knew it was Blue False Indigo, or Baptisia australis.

This is a plant native to the midwest. It is drought tolerant -- can live in poor soils and tolerates hot sun or partial shade. It blooms well from May - July in KS. In my area it typically grows 3 - 4 feet tall.

It is a very slow grower -- taking up to three years to mature.

Try it in your next design -- you'll like it.

[Mark Oomkes]

I missed this last week, but another feature is the seed pods have a neat rattle to them when they dry out later in the year. Reminds me of a baby's rattle.

Very cool plant.

[Hamons]

and this after an expert treatment. Notice the dark coloringthe leaves have taken on.

This was actually a lessone learned. I had a tri-colored butterfly bush with spidermites next to this plant. Miixed up a a batch of talstar and added some liquid iron for good measure. Sprayed the False Indigo since it was right next to it. Bad idea -- within 2 hours -- this is what the foliage looked like.

Wonder if it will leaf out again? We'll see!

[Hamons]

Not shy of showing my mistakes -- lesson LEARNED