Tuesday morning was our first truffle hunt. Paolo is a professional truffle hunter with 3 preserves, near San Giovanni d'Asso. Quite a lovely hike, best for the agile with good, grippy walking shoes or boots. Very very interesting and lunch, after, with fresh truffles...delicious!! He takes guests, up to 12 for about an hour and a half, digging truffles as we go - spring or Marzuolo Jan 10 to April 30, Scorzone or summer truffles June 1 to September 9 and finally the most expensive and dear Tartufo Bianco September 10 to December 31. He will also take you through the truffle museum in San Giovanni d'Asso to through the fantastic outdoor art-piece garden, Il Bosco della Ragnaia, www.laragnaia.com/EN/intro .
After, you can pre-arrange a truffle lunch with many truffle courses at MaMa' in Montisi.
Just in case anyone is as charmed by the visitings of the pairs of pigeons to the pond as I am...finally one rested long enough for a few photos....she was getting a foot massage....
And for those who have asked about the herbs in the garden, yesterday I used the copper plant tags Jack, Steph and Maddie gave me for Christmas to label them all....
And now we have the wild nepitella (for mushroom dishes and carciofi alla Romana....a kind of wild mint.) (Last year's was weeded out by Ivo's helper - since it's a wild mint, it's a weed, right??!)
This is called Curry Lavender in England and Immortalle in Italy. It, too, grows wild on the hillsides. I think it has a coffee fragrance... Alberto and Giovanna use it at La Romita. Flowers are yellow. Now I'll figure out uses for it. It's very interesting.
Yes, I DO need a weeder-in-residence....the grass starts never sleep....
And a final view of tulips under the apricot tree with the tangle of belladonna leaves in and around.
Ciao!!
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