Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Up The Garden Path


What could be more quintessentially British than the good old-fashioned English country garden, eh?!

Well, I don't have one of those. But I do have a veggie patch. OK, so I don't have one of them either - but I do have a few pots, tubs and troughs dotted about outside the kitchen, into which I have planted various veggies. And with such precision that there now appears to be a fine crop developing.

Sounds nice, doesn't it? "Life's rosey in the 'garden' at Chez Babbington" I hear you say. Well all is not as it may seem!


Look, you're missing the point here. The thing is, I have slugs. At least, that's what I assume I have. Certainly, the lettuces (or should that be letti? lettuci?) aren't too chuffed. Sure they have sun and water (no speed boat, but then what would they do with one of those?!). Trouble is, sun and water ain't no good if you're being devoured daily.

Boo hiss, slug!
(photo: buygardendecor.com, via Google images)


Actually, thinking about it, if lettuces/letti/lettuci did have a speed boat, they could plan an escape during a heavy rain storm. Ooh, that's a point - how about a sailing boat? We have lots of wind in this country (poot!). Ooh, ooh, ooh, I've got it! Air balloons. That's what lettuces/letti/lettuci need. It's obvious, when you think about it. Isn't it? Ah. Maybe it's just me then.

But I digress...

The point is this: some low-down, good-for-nothing, slimey garden-based creature, some thieving tea leaf, has been helping itself to our lettuces/letti/lettuci. I've yet to find the culprit, but when I do... er... oh.

I'll probably just move it to one side. I'm not an animal.

Don't even get me started on the spinach!


3 comments:

Lobster-Mitch said...

Great pics there matey, I waswondering if you might have a caterpillar trying to ruin your harvest? Is there any slime residue? I mean on the plants....
Maybe we'll get some green fingered experts write in and give us some clues....

Surely this is up the Cidery one's alley!

claires81 said...

There is nothing up my alley I would hasten to point out! I fear however that I will have night mares after seeing the picture of the vicious slug!

Now, a tip for slugs....get a jam jar and bury it in the soil so it's top is level. Then pour in some beer. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, fall in, get drunk and be unable to slime back out again. Not sure if it also works with cider!!! xxx

Babbington said...

See, we can always really on our west-coutry bumpkin friend there, can't we?!

I will never forget that gem of knowledge you once shared about how best to attach a turnip to a the radiator grill of a Massey Ferguson. Pure genius!