Also known as “rattle weed” and “rattle bush,” wild blue indigo is shrub-like and grows 2 to 4 feet high from a woody base. Its nicknames come from the seed pods that form after flowering. Flowers are blue-violet and pea-like, similar to bread root (same family!), and condensed upright terminal spikes that are 4-16 inches long. Members of the pea family harbor microorganisms in their root system that produce nitrogen necessary for the plant’s survival. Leaves are divided into three leaflets (trifoliate). If a stem is broken, it will release sap that turns dark blue upon contact with air. The genus name Baptisia is derived from the greek “bapto”, meaning “to immerse”, in reference to the plant’s use in creating dyes for cloth. The specific name australis is Latin for “southern.” Indigenous folks used root tea as an emetic and a poultice to help with inflammation.
Indigo is accompanied by honey bee, a VIP of the pollinator sector. From National Geographic: “Honeybees are important pollinators for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They live on stored honey and pollen all winter and cluster into a ball to conserve warmth. All honeybees are social and cooperative insects. Members of the hive are divided into three types. Workers forage for food (pollen and nectar from flowers), build and protect the hive, clean, and circulate air by beating their wings. The queen’s job is simple—she lays the eggs that will spawn the hive’s next generation of bees. There is usually only a single queen in a hive. If the queen dies, workers will create a new queen by feeding one of the worker females a special food called “royal jelly.” This elixir enables the worker to develop into a fertile queen.”
Original mixed media on raw stretched canvas with maple float frame.
Framed Size: 11x11x2(inches)
All orders will be shipped in 3-10 business days via USPS Priority mail, UPS or FedEx, depending on the size of the item and whether framing was desired. For medium to larger works, and if crating is needed to safely ship, it will be UPS or FedEX. USPS can ship larger works but it is a lot more expensive!
If I anticipate framing will take longer for any reason, I will reach out and let you know! You will receive a tracking number via email once the work has shipped.
If you are in the Fargo-Moorhead area and wish to pick it up, please select STUDIOPICKUP at checkout. I will have a table in the front lobby with your piece labeled for pick-up between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM. I will always try to say hello if I am in the studio!
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