Walnut Pesto "Pesto Di Noce"

Pesto originates from Northern Italy.  Its name is derived form pesta.  Pesto was made in a marble mortar with a wooden pestle.  (The ingredients were added to the mortar and crushed, or pounded with the pestle.)  The first recipe on pesto can be found in the book  La Cuciniera Genovese written in 1863 by Giovanni Battista Ratto.  

2 cups firmly packed basil

Traditional pesto is made with pine nuts, but walnuts are healthier.  You could also use almonds.
"Pine mouth syndrome" ( I kid you not) starts several days after eating pine nuts and can last for several weeks.  It makes eating and drinking unpleasant because of a metallic, bitter taste in the mouth.

1/2 cup nuts, chopped.

2+ cloves of garlic from the garden, minced.  (We love garlic, so I went heavy....)

1/3 cup good quality olive oil.

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

To the walnuts add olive oil, basil, garlic, salt to taste.  Once blended add the cheese and 1-2 T butter.

Prepare pasta.

Tasty!

Signs that your Garden Sneakers need to be replaced.....

"I like the way my own feet smell. I love to smell my sneakers when I take them off."

Christina Ricci

If there were something that I was going to endorse, it would probably be something like sneakers.

Justin Timberlake

 

Flash Flood Warning!

Flash flood- A rapid rise of water in low lying area that occurs within 2 hours, but less then 6, after a triggering event (natural or man-made).

We have lived here for about 8 years.  In that time we have been through several very bad storms and at least 2 hurricanes.  We never saw the creek rise as quickly or as far in as it did.  

(Click on the images for a better look)

"The Bend at Little Crum Creek"

Notice where the greenhouse sits.

The bench is actually back off the creek and 3+ feet higher up.

During the flash flood.

You can just see the greenhouse on the left.

We never had the creek reach the bench before.  We had to run down and move it!

The tree trunk that had fallen across the creek last week washed away.

It is amazing to watch this timid creek  become so fierce. 

Breached at several locations.

Baby ducks waiting out the storm.  (They can not fly yet).  I was worried they would get swept away. 

In areas where the creek is only several inches, with embankments of 5+ feet, you can see how the creek rose up and over.

I just planted that Japanese Maple. 

Test Time...

I finally got around to testing my soil pH and fertility.  It's only been 8 years since putting in my first beds and 5 months since I received my tester as a gift. When I first read the directions it seemed a bit daunting.  Now that I have done it once, it is actually pretty easy.

Burpee Electronic Soil Tester

Make sure to use clean tools.

First remove the top 2" from the area you are testing.  Next, dig down about 6" in several locations.  My beds are 4x4's so I decided on 4 evenly spaced areas.  

Break-up soil and remove stones, twigs etc.

Evenly collect and combine the dirt from the different locations until you have between 2" and 4".

Add distilled, spring or rain water to your container of dirt, turning it into a mud like consistency. 

Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes, and then drain of excess water. 

Place the meter into the mud and select either pH or fertility.

Wait two minutes before taking a reading.  

I discovered the my pH was just shy of 7 or neutral.  The soil fertility was on the "too little" side, which makes sense since I just got done growing green beans in this area.  Now that I have my readings, I can amend the soil accordingly.

Soil pH and fertility, along with sun exposure and moisture levels are important factors in providing the best growing environment for a successful garden

Follow the link below to learn more about soil testing with the Burpee Electronic Soil Tester....

http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/sun-and-soil-testing/sunandsoil.html

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread....

Courtesy of KING ARTHUR  FLOUR

This recipe looked so good that I just had to try it.  

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/

Butterfly Garden in the Making.....

Some requirements for a Butterfly Garden are sun, a variety of butterfly attracting plants that bloom throughout the season,  providing food and a place to lay eggs, natural or organic pest control and shelter,
You can have your Butterfly Garden certified through the  NABA's Butterfly Garden Certification Program. 

Learn about attracting Buterflies to your garden.... 

Gardens with Wings
http://www.gardenswithwings.com/index.html

Fallow this link for information on the North American Butterfly Association
http://www.nababutterfly.com/cert_index.html

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Eastern%20Tiger%20Swallowtail/index.html

Spicebush Swallowtail

http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Spicebush%20Swallowtail/index.html