Flora
Plant Portrait – False Indigo Bush
As you might know by now, I like to periodically highlight plants we have at the farm and sanctuary. Today’s pick is the False Indigo bush.
False Indigo Bush in blossom – photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC
This is one which we planted back around 2014 in various areas because it does well in wetter habitats. It is a native plant to the area that is also a nitrogen fixer, meaning that it adds natural fertilization to the plants around it.
One of the ways we design ecological systems within the permaculture model is to use plants that help provide the nutrients needed, rather than using commercial fertilizers. When we prune nitrogen fixing plants, they release nitrogen through their roots into the soil. As much as is trimmed off the tops of them, is also as much of the roots as will release the nitrogen into the soil (“as above so below”). And when we mulch with the trimmings, this also adds nitrogen as the trimmings break down into the soil. Later I can talk more about other types of plants which add different types of nutrients in their own various ways.
New leaves not yet opened out – by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC
Close-up of the flower stalk by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC
Another wonderful aspect of the False Indigo we have discovered is this:
“False Indigo Bush blooms are a great place to learn identification of native solitary bees which are their primary pollinators. The blooms come at a time in which most wildflowers are not blooming – in the transition between spring and early summer.”
~ Indigenous Landscapes https://indigescapes.com
Native solitary bee (Miner Bee – genus Andrena) on False Indigo flowers – photo and ID by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC
Can you see the bee?
It’s good to be aware however, that False Indigo spreads aggressively and can out-compete other native plants. It’s best to only plant it in areas where it can fit into the ecosystem without getting too out of control.
Dense thicket of riotously happy False Indigo by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC
What teachings does False Indigo Bush bring up for you? If you were to visit the Sanctuary, would you wish to spend some time asking them what lessons they would like to give us?
Yours in community,
Jean
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Written by : Jean Cavanaugh
Jean Cavanaugh is the founder and steward of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, established in 2019 as a living, learning community devoted to reconnecting people with the wisdom of nature, the sacred order of creation, and the presence of Christ within all life. Her work brings together spiritual formation, ecological stewardship, ancestral wisdom, and hands-on community practice.
Through years of practical work on the land, study of the Mysteries, and the healing of her own severe health challenges through natural methods, Jean has come to recognize God’s hand at work throughout creation. Her teachings, rooted in the Mystery School tradition and Christian gnosis, explore how the patterns of heaven, earth, and the human body reveal the way back to divine presence, peace, and inner strength.
Jean leads with honesty, integrity, and a deeply welcoming spirit, inviting others to let go of inherited assumptions and rediscover truth through lived experience and embodied understanding. She works with all ages—from preschoolers to elders—offering programs and celebrations that emphasize direct engagement with nature, music, story, homesteading skills, and in-person community.
She and her family live at the 21-acre Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, where daily life reflects a commitment to simplicity, beauty, and harmony with the land. The sanctuary includes gardens, woodland trails, a seasonal creek, gathering circles, and spaces designed to nourish both people and wildlife. Jean is especially passionate about creating environments that are grounding, beautiful, and spiritually restorative.
Through her writing and teaching, Jean encourages others to know themselves, know creation, and recognize Christ as the living truth present within and around us—always inviting a return to love, beauty, and the sacred order of life.
