Milkweed and Monarchs

 

 

 

 

 

Common milkweed is a pretty plant with fragrant globe shaped flowers on upright three foot tall stems. Famed as a plant that attracts butterflies, this wildflower is a must-have for the butterfly garden. It is the host for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Monarch butterflies deposit their eggs on milkweed plants; once the caterpillars emerge, they eat the leaves. The larvae (caterpillars) of monarch butterflies eat ONLY milkweed. I have this "common milkweed" variety in my garden, but the "butterfly weed" variety of milkweed is shorter and has flat clusters of orange flowers and is also a great addition to a wildflower or butterfly garden.
Monarch populations are endangered, but we can all help by planting butterfly gardens that include a variety of milkweed and butterfly weed plants. To get your own milkweed seeds, go to www.livemonarch.com and plant a butterfly garden.

Sunny Days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been a beautiful warm and sunny week of weather. We got a chance to dry out from the flooding rains and I hope those who needed rain received some.

It was nice to be outside and enjoy the garden, visit friends at their farm, and get some work done in our yard. We brought home farm fresh eggs and juicy sweet peaches from the farm. I made a peach pie from this easy recipe. And we finished a simple but much needed landscape project, removing some overgrown ornamental grass and replacing it with sedum, cactus and sedge grass, all better suited to the hot sunny location.

In the Garden. . .

This week in the garden. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the lotus are starting to bloom in the koi pond

 

we have an adorable tiny turtle living in the small goldfish pond

 

the perennials are in full bloom

 

Jasper loves the morning sun!

 

From the Garden

 

 

 

Our first big harvest of asparagus this spring, fresh from the garden.

We'll be enjoying this with a grilled steak for dinner tonight!

 

Are you planning a vegetable garden this year?

 

Fresh Basil Pesto

I love the extra flavor fresh herbs add to a dish and basil is one of my all time favorite herbs. Fresh basil pesto is deliciously fragrant added to your favorite pasta, served hot or cold. I've posted this recipe before, but it's so good and easy I thought I'd share it again.

 

 

Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
2 cloves minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Combine the basil in with the nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.

2. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

 

Serve with your favorite pasta or spread over toasted baguette slices.

This recipe makes a little more than 1 cup.

 

 

What's your favorite way to use fresh herbs?

Summer Days

Welcome long summer days, short warmer nights, the sound of birds and flutter of butterflies. Welcome farm fresh produce, enjoying meals outdoors, concerts in the park, days by the pool or beach and all that summer means to you.

Welcome Summer!

Enjoy your weekend!

Pond Progress

Here's a quick progress update on our new backyard koi pond:

 

Due to some heavy rain over the past few days, work has come to a halt until everything outside dries out a little more.  

In these photos you can see the basic shape (14 feet by 14 feet) and depth (about 30 inches). The sides still need some work to level the soil around the rim and then we'll be ready to place in the pond lining.

More Pond Progress

 

Digging is in full swing for our new koi pond! It' supposed to be rainy and wet for the next week, so my husband worked really hard over the weekend to get as much done as he could. The basic shape and depth are complete. It's almost time for the liner to go in. Then it will seem like a real pond instead of just a giant hole in the backyard!

 

This Week in the Garden

 

After a very chilly Mother's Day, it's been a beautiful warm and sunny week. The garden is thriving in this warmer weather.

This is a great year for the pretty pink and purple columbine. The goldfinches like to eat the seeds from the dried flower pods and they must have scattered the seeds all over the yard. Columbines are blooming everywhere! And the hostas and ferns fill the shady areas with their lush, multi-textured blue and green leaves.

Flowers for Mom

 

 

Happy Mother's Day!

A Trip to the Greenhouse

It's finally starting to feel like Spring around here, so a trip to our favorite garden center was in order this afternoon.

It' still a little too early to plant annuals, but it's so nice to be in the warm humid environment of the big greenhouses with the sweet smell the of the flowers and plants.

 

And the best part was, the rows and rows of gorgeous hanging baskets, colorful coleus, interesting succulents and beautiful tropical blooms did inspire me to get some more work done in my own garden and yard!