![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfxiJhX2GZIaVIh2ifTdZk6Dq7IimV1WUojq9OVX9x7S5vP6rSscuFN1_MJNn26XDqh6MkNK5CfZZMZBNMYtcGBCXs2ydS5W6nNvdTHJNnZjT41k4X4Mr2uC7cB_IZOnIcjTgVcYrLVk/s400/yard.jpg)
This is my backyard.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNvJgScQFa-mis51PiuR__oFx3DgxfLW7Dti_bHTQ5R0SM8lcbW9fm1cIti-3AxIYyDk93Tl8JZYiviM4XcuBTuyBfehYJUy9o4FgBwbFU7eXJCQcHWUxRBPzlY2RgNYmAq7Cuv_xB_8/s400/tree.jpg)
Hiding in the corner, by the creek, is an ancient black walnut. This tree and I have had issues as it drops large green nuts all over the area I need to mow. I usually take a golf club out and hit the nuts into the creek. I've gotten pretty good at it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e-zJGJRCCsmsLAzmnwXLGM8f-QLWDqbySoLrYIHigJ-L5xuSALoWTTJWCIb0-FSwIy2CcU-XTQKcpwe_51u_lt55q4Tyc51m_6aucRpUSRJpIrGAHpzDuVjoa2BDOG-azXZ44LQBY98/s400/leaves.jpg)
It also drops large branches of leaves which take a lot of raking. This tree is very high maintenance.
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My attitude about my tree changed dramatically when the last issue of Spin Off showed up.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wTRB0qw5w6lij9kYDUcZY02F3C5VoaODQ0cED5tFPC3vYD-LTC84mDQFqLfIgGaf4RxW3VWM7OGsEpOcbyjKYyh0GZrTYPmi_Zg4ReHLR1TcBgWi-7ZEc-IiSzY4HOvGL6O2BZK8S3E/s400/nutdye2.jpg)
There was an article about using the nuts and the leaves to make a natural, but powerful dye.
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I smashed up the small handful of nuts I could find, as the season is pretty much over, and soaked them in water. Overnight the water turned dark brown. I need to soak them a week or so and then boil them before I can use them to dye. I can't wait.