Good Snails Came to My Rescue!

I know, you must be thinking I've lost my mind!

What on earth - good snails?

She's cracked it good this time!

LOL

You know by now I really dislike using any type of chemicals in my garden, 

not only because of our pets but for us too.

I prefer to keep the ''garden in balance'' using natures methods,

for every bad bug there's a beneficial bug just waiting to devour it.

That's not to say I get discouraged from time to time 

and feel like tossing a grenade out there and just be done!

Yep, those nasty crawly, slimy snails eat

 just about anything in sight!

They love my Hollyhocks,

one time I counted 5 on one stem.

I try to go out every morning and pick snails.

Sometimes I stomp, squish, smash....

BUT

I don't have to do that too much anymore.
The herd has dwindled. (Happy Dance!)

These that we see so frequently are the common Brown Garden Snail (Helix Aspersa) a terrestrial gastropod mollusk - one of the best known species in the world.

To say this guy gets around is an understatement!

Last year I started noticing different types of snails in my gardens.

I thought 'Oh great, they've sent word out to ALL their cousins! 

They're having a garden party!'

Figuring I wouldn't have much of a garden left, 

I threw my hands up in despair and went in the house.

Had a conference with myself,

then decided to research these new visitors.

A Decollate Snail

(Rumina Decollta)

My new best friend here ventures out at night to quench it's voracious appetite for garden snails, slugs, and their eggs.

They live for about 2 years and lay 200 eggs per year!
Woo Hoo!
Yippee ki yay!!!

As they age the tip of the shell breaks off indicating adulthood.

At about 1 inch long they must have a good metabolism to eat all they do

I was out pulling weeds and came upon a graveyard of sorts 

eww

There was a piece of scrap wood laying over the hoses that hadn't been picked up.

When I picked it up I was surprised to see all these empty garden snail shells. 

I think the decollate's found someone's hiding place....

Unbelievable! SO happy!

It just goes to show you that given time and a lot of patience

for every ''bad bug'' there is a ''good bug'' that comes along (eventually) to help keep the garden in check.

(ok ok it took them 25 years to find me, but they finally did! )

While researching I was surprised to find that you can purchase Decollate Snails at several online garden stores.

Who even knew there were predatory snails of other snails? 

Other posts you may be interested in:

Natural Pest Control in the Garden

Gardening Tips and Tricks

Feed Your Worms

Happy Gardening!

Davy Duck Crochet Pattern

Enlarge, print, make!

Other posts you may enjoy:
Dumpling Cat Crochet Pattern
Christmas Ornaments to Crochet
Ghoulish Grace Crochet Pattern

20 Great Deck Ideas to take Summer Entertaining to the Next Level

HomeBNC has done a feature on

20 Great Deck Ideas to take Summer Entertaining to the Next Level

and has included mine!

Look for #12

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Cat Coloring Pages

Enlarge, print ad color!

Enjoy♥

Other posts you may be interested in:

Lovable Cats and Dogs Coloring pages

Seashore Coloring pages

Nature Coloring Pages

International Drop a Rock Day and Scatter Kindness ~ #sktrkndns ~ WW

The 4th year of International Drop a Rock Day, an original idea by the Word Rocks Project to bring people all around the globe together.

On July 3rd 2019, people from all over the world, many of whom belong to rock painting groups, will paint and hide rocks for others to find.

What’s special about the rocks hidden on International Drop a Rock Day is that they all have the same message. The theme this year is “Harmony.” Harmony is the ability to be in peace with others.

The purpose of painting and hiding a “Harmony” rock is to remind others that we can work together to create a better future. By sharing a simple message – harmony – you have the opportunity to be a positive influence in someone’s life.

Finding a painted rock by chance might just be the reminder that lifts the finder’s spirits and increases their joy. A simple act of kindness can make a powerful impact.

Happy rock painting, hiding and possibly finding!

Hidden 😊

Hidden 😏

 

Found by Ingrid T.C.

on May 9, 2019

''Found this gem while tying purple ribbons for 

Relay For Life Tracy-Mountain House 

Paint the Town Purple! #sktrkndns''

 

Found by Andrea M. C.
on May 17, 2019

''Found this outside our Allergists #sktrkndns''

Found by Sherry A.

on May 31, 2019

''Found this rock near the Turlock surgery center''

 #sktrkndns

A branch of The Kindness Rock Project

Feed Your Worms!

Don't forget to feed your worms!

Now you probably think I'm crazy, but your garden will appreciate it.

We all know I love to garden. I try to keep it as organic as possible. Hate putting chemicals on my plants...that includes chemical fertilizer.

I don't have the room for a compost pile 
or the time or energy to tend to it...

so I do my "lazy woman gardener" style =)

What I do...

I have a big metal bowl 

that sits next to my kitchen sink.
(you can find something much prettier, I'm sure =))

To it I add fruit, vegetable peelings and trimmings, egg shells, coffee grounds, veggies or fruit past its prime, etc. throughout the day.

Please DO NOT include meat or dairy items.

They are not beneficial to the garden.

When I get a chance I go out into my gardens and 
look for a spot in which to bury these....
a bare spot or near, 
but not next to a plant - so I don't disturb its roots.

I dig several small/medium holes, 
fill with scraps until my collection is gone.
It also depends how much I have in my bowl.
 Sometimes I'm in a hurry and 
just dig a big hole for all of it...
but it takes longer for it to decompose. 

Make sure the hole is deep enough to replace the dirt
 you removed. After all, you don't want to attract unwelcome critters. 

Tamp down the dirt on top well. I even step on it to be sure it's nice and compacted. Your done!
You've just fed your worms and in turn your plants.

Your Earthworms will come along, eat all these yummies up, then leave their castings (poop aka fertilizer) and even aerate your soil. Your plants will absolutely love this. I have been doing this for years,  it's a tried and true method.

A portion of my garden

And it's FREE!

AND if you're lucky you may just have a
 few volunteer plants pop up!

I have volunteer tomatoes, cucumbers and 
potatoes this year  =)

If you don't want to do the whole collection thing,

here are few plants that do well with certain scraps.

Roses love Bananas!

Bananas have calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur just to mention a few of their nutrients.

Bury the whole peel about an inch below the soil at the base of the plant.

Camellias, Azaleas, and Tomatoes love Egg Shells!

Dry and coarsely crumble the shells,

 mix lightly with the soil or just sprinkle on top.

Eggshells provide calcium and magnesium. 
An added bonus if you sprinkle them on top of the soil  ~  slugs and snails are discouraged from getting to your plants because the shells are too sharp for them to crawl over.

So save those veggie and fruit scraps for your garden!

Your plants will love you for it =)

Now go feed your worms!!!

Plants from my garden and garden related items are available in my Etsy Shop ♥

Other posts you may like:

Build a Healthy Garden Starting in the Fall 

Natural Pest Control in the Garden  

Peace in the Garden

Phones ~ WW