I am on my nightly slug patrol, in the cool breeze after another hot day. My headtorch illuminating the slime trails.
I pick some of those little pale slugs from under the pots of Good King Henry. They’re sprinkled with confetti from the neighbouring wild carrot flowers. There’s a giant orange-skirted slimer heading for the Taunton Deane kale! I send that one on a flight; the Taunton Deane would have put up a good fight all the same – I wouldn’t mess with it!
Onto the red veined sorrel, sheltered in the shade of a stack of bagged compost. I find another big slug. BOING! “Ahhh, what’s that!?” Or something to that effect… Out from the pots something leaps at me. It’s a frog. I’m glad slugs haven’t rapidly evolved to pounce.
It took me by surprise but maybe I shouldn’t be, there’s food aplenty – slugs are on the menu obviously. Also, earthworms in the beds, plenty of insects around the allium, lemon balm and oregano flowers. Bon appetit.
We share our gardens with many others. From the ground up, feeding the soil food web through composting, mulching and no dig gardening, we create conditions for more life. The next morning at breakfast, I watch a blackbird forage fruit, the same as I had moments before. The redcurrant bush seems to just keep giving and giving its refreshing red jewels.
We garden using organic practices. Sometimes our plants will have some blemishes. Often our garden will be bountiful with a diversity of plants.
Our gardens provide food for us, for birds, for slugs, for frogs. As well as plants for you, your gardens and your wildlife. Sometimes Often, there are surprises. When we take the time to look, we see part of the complex web of life we’re woven into.
It’s less of a fight and more an intricate watercolour painting, with such subtle details.
Earthed Up! 
Lovely poetic descriptions, your gardens are lovely.
LikeLike