Slug it Out

Yes they are back. And this friendly rain we're having that folks are saying we need, that feels good, so gentle, so refreshing, cleaning the air, etc., is making the critters appear by the hundreds from seemingly nowhere. I once stepped on a banana slug in Spokane. That's my only experience of slugs in Spokane. Too dry. Here you can find a slug trail up the utility room door, across the wall and over a chair—yes I mean inside the house. They are everywhere. Where do they come from? Cat's fur, the tiny ones the size of a button cling when the cat brushes past, on your feet, boots, shoes, flip-flops, etc. And how do you get rid of them? Beer, boards, slug-patrol in the dark with a flashlight, slug bait, and iron. Now I don't want to mess with them eating the pansies or the lettuce, so I sprinkle around the iron pellets. I have always had cats as pets and when they were outdoor cats, I didn't want to use any poison in the yard. Still no poison—organic or bust. And when living sclose to the water, poisons of any sort join the watershed immediately and end up in the sound. So organic it is. Iron. Or beer, if you into going out every day and emptying a saucer of beer and slugs. Arugh!

Today is my day to drive south and begin the cleaning out process. I am tying up a 22 year marriage. Five years ago I knew I had to do something. It has taken me five years to complete the transition. I've read some books on divorce. Long term divorces are harder to unravel and do take time. Couples have money and houses and businesses and children together. Fortunately this marriage doesn't have children. We do have cats, and I left one behind. He is a Maine Coon with a crippled paw. He wouldn't have been a good cat to move, and the ex loves him. So it's okay. My new cat Sid is playful and protective. He's a good cat.

Okay, I'll end it here and get on the road. Yes it is raining, but my prediction is that we'll have more summer. So don't despair and do look out for slugs and if you have some light plastic, cover your tomatoes to keep them dry. My neighbor hooked an umbrella to the poles supporting his tomatoes. It was a perfect solution—just open the umbrella when it rained. Save the plump juicy fruit from blight.

Peace,

Flower

Slugs

Well, I never have seen slugs like I've seen here in the PNW. When I lived in Spokane, I stepped on one once, I think it was the only one I'd ever seen. Here, they are everywhere, leaving their shiny trails up your walls beside your front door, even coming in on the cat's fur and tooling around your living room. In the garden there are supposed to be plants that help keep them away. Well, I think they just eat those plants. The lovely marigold devoured by banana slugs. And how about the lovely lettuce plant, and the cabbage plant; should I go on? Here's what I have to say about slugs: get some of that iron stuff that you sprinkle around the plants. It works and it's not going to kill any animals. Why mess with beer or going out at dawn and pulling them from beneath boards. Just use the iron. If anyone has a good reason why not to use the iron, let me know--and I'll pass it along.