Went out to harvest Scapes,

and only got a handful so far -

but gathered an armload of spicy greens

and various kinds of Chard for a Sir-Fry,

and broccoli and borage flowers for Salad.

Sometimes the Garden's own mandate changes one's plans.

When you venture out, ya gotta be ready for anything.

LO AND BEHOLD, on the harvest mission I see hundreds of tiny and mid-size SLUGS

are attacking my raised allium rows. In broad daylight!!

Jules-Vern-Scissor-hands

takes back the Allium Grove.

It's NOW prime HUNTING SEASON.

And as we GW-ers well know,

being a gardener is NOT for the squeamish.

Beer doen't begin to make a dent

in Slimy Spring hatchout of the Pacific NW -

Last week's Slug Powder sprinkled around beds

seems to only have sent the little nibblers up higher

in the greens - some even nestled at the TOP of 4' high flowering Purslane!

The ground is wet - and the destroyers of my dinner

are on the march. Small slugs and snails

became easy to see in the diffuse light

of this mild, cloudy day -

(and I was still wearing the power-glasses

that help me get thru the morning...

so - AHA there you buggers are!)

So today, in a moment of necessity,

my weapon of choice for mass killing

became my Allium-loving Kitchen Shears.

I deftly severed front from back of dozens of crawlies.

Got em on flowers, at the stout bases of stalks, under leaves, and on the ground.

The little rolled-up ones get knocked to the ground and stamped quick. In fact, one can rustle a plant a bit and watch a torrent of them fall - ready for the seasoned Hunter to pounch with sharp Shears. They're left to compost in place, as I move on to complete my cole-crop harvest. Gramma Wollan would be proud. (But she'll still not get me to eat those stanky Ruta-babies, cold or hot!)

Having enjoyed another lively moment of Zen in the garden,

I will soon enjoy a lovely organic lunch, of my own

- well - more accurately - of Nature's choosing.

On it goes...

Yesterday - I baked muffins - to warm my kitchen

and to remember seasons spent near Gramma Lottie,

whose home was a bakery for our Montana community for years. I realized recently that I have several polka-dot dresses now - and most of my memories show her in a polka-dot dress, and flour-covered baker's apron.

In my kitchen this week, I battle the skittering noise of frisky squirrels who have AGAIN busted into the attic. (Does anyone wanna harvest these boys for some kind of Wild-meat stew?!) Come to think of it, a Raccoon has also decided that my homey environment offers rewards.

How the heck to deal with HIM -

if he goes beyond munching Scapes?

Enjoy your day - alone or with the critters.

AND - get out there NOW

to prevent the next generation

of SLUGS from destroying your kitchen delights!

Take your Glasses and Shears. Git busy!