slugs and snails and..rabbits' tails?

Well, I have almost done all the planting I need to before we go away. Still a couple of more things to put in pots but I can see the end of it now. All the stuff I wanted to put out the front has gone in, and I've done a token bit of weeding too!

Moved one pot to find a cluster of seven snails attached to it, and on removing them found a vine weevil, which made me squawk, then squash it. A couple of years ago I'd have thought 'oh, what an interesting beetle! I wonder what it is?' and leave it be. Did that with the Red Lily Beetle, not realising what it did, and my poor Snake's Head Fritillary did not appreciate my ignorance. The naturalist and the gardener battle it out inside me, but there are those pests I am generous with, and those I am not...

Slug and snails' eggs everywhere. The most common I find look very like slow release fertiliser granules...except they can be crushed (and when I have the time, they are).

Although I also discovered these at the bottom of a seed tray module. Plonked them in a pot of salt water. Much less repugnant than having to kill the adults. I'm rather weird and find snails (and even some slugs) quite cute, in a quirky kind of way.

Anyway, have been on phone to my mum to make some arrangements; they are doing some house and rabbit sitting for us! Charlie is well - he got a bit of hay in his eye the other week, but as soon as I noticed discharge I examined it and got it out. I must have caught it quickly; his eye is perfectly fine. He needs a bath this week (ack, another thing to do); I cleaned out his hutch this morning. He is chilling out in his run, althought the weather certainly isn't chilly - very hot in the sun this afternoon.

Anyway; things to do.


Today: 5/10, medium

snail's eggs

I shan't be writing over the next few days but I will just say this - do you know what a snail's egg (or perhaps they are slugs) looks like? It was my brother who first informed me of it last weekend. They look like round, plastic peas, of various sizes and shades. I keep finding bright yellow ones. They look fake, but it seems to be true (feel free to correct me). From my current observations, they seem to grow slightly darker and the 'plastic' shell goes crinkly and then they come out all tiny and white. I wonder if it's a particular type that produces these?

But seriously, I never would have guessed they look the way they do. Pointed out one to Bev yesterday and she was just as astonished. Well, that's my fact(?) of the week.

Yesterday: 5/10, medium to high
Todayso far: 5/10, medium