I hope this does work,
however I am notorious at killing lavender, I’ve bought two in the last 6 months that didn’t last longer than a few weeks but I’m working on it……

(This one will be re potted in a much bigger pot tomorrow)

I was a bit worried about my blueberry bush this yeah as the green was being munched but I couldn’t see who by??

Until one day, sitting in the garden my mam yelled “it’s a beetle”
She had seen the little black beetle at work and grabbed it before it could do anymore damage!
Since then I’ve not lost any more leaves but I’m constantly checking for any more!

My local craft pop up shop Make/Do was selling it with a discount so I thought I’d give it  a try.

It has some really cute patterns and 5 whole pattern sheets!

I decided to start with a cute little pair of baby dungaree shorts for my niece and they turned out pretty well indeed!

I just made two alterations to the pattern: the duck instead of the stars and instead of working buttons on the sides I added press studs for ease.

I just hope they fit!

Here’s a quick look through what I’ve been up to these long lazy days!

worshiping the sun with a ‘Happy’ Birthday cake

enjoying my new bike with Cycle Routes Map

and a cycle to Crystal Palace to see Darwin and the Dinosaurs

perfect weather to roast a chicken 

and to work on a new design

pottering around doing some potting

enjoying the fruits of the raspberry bush

and kicking back in the evening summer heat making cushions and drinking local craft beer

Summer!!

We occasionally have an unwanted visitor into our garden in the form of a large dog from a few doors down (affectionately named Cujo) and he likes to jump through/over my trellis fence and get lost and scared for a while before returning from where he came.

As he did this on saturday the fence has been propped up risking another unwanted visit so after work today I got out there and tried to fix it!

Once I did I moved the Honeysuckle to cover the section he jumps over to try and block his view slightly and re-arranged the garden to prevent having anything near the wall that he can use to jump down onto!

Once I did this I was able to sit back anf enjoy the new summer blooms!!!!!

Honeysuckle

Delicate Lily flower

Clematis

Azelia

Here are my options

green mottled buttons

pink and purple mix

three solid purple buttons

multi pinks

baby blue for the purple Blue Bird

Or creamy white circle buttons

????????????????????

I need some help!!!!!!

Over the course of a week, I had watched as one by one slugs attacked my pepper plants, leaving only the stubble of a stalk and a few discarded leaves. I really didn’t want to use slug pellets. I had put down coffee grounds (fertilising and supposed to irritate slug bellies) and ground mace (it works for human attackers!), and would spent half an hour every night after darkness settled creeping round with a flashlight pulling slugs and snails off tender leaves. Fortunately, my neighbour Angel suggested trying this and it works!

Step 1: I used a plastic picnic cup cup as I don’t mind if it gets ruined with slime and a tin of beer. I actually like Polish beer, so this seemed like a bit of a waste until I learned the slugs like it too. I also decided to make a wee umbrella using a jam jar lid wider than the mouth of the cup and three small stakes, to keep the sun off and the rain out.

Polish tinned lager, 1 low tray, 1 plastic cup, 1 small pretty plant pot, 3 knitting needles for staking and 1 jam jar lid

As well as the dug-in trap, I laid out two traps that I could move around the garden as needed, using an old pot tray and a high, narrow plant pot. I’ve used this type of movable trap before, although I’ve always wondered whether the trek up and over the sides put them off.

Step 2: Next I dug a hole so that the rim of the cup sits just at surface level. The hole looks enormous with nothing in it, but it is probably about 3 x 2 inches.

Be careful at this point, I’ve exposed some roots

Step 3: Insert the cup to ensure it fits. I think it’s better to be conservative in your estimates, as it’s a bit easier to dig out than fill in to get the correct size.

Nestle the cup as close to surface-level as possible, so the slugs just slip right in

Step 4: As I mention above, I was a bit worried about rainwater diluted my beer, so I devised a cover that won’t interfere with the trap itself. After inserting the cup, I arranged three 7-inch 5mm DPNs to form a triangle that will support the jam jar lid to act as an umbrella.

Angle them slightly inwards so that they form a buttress to hold the lid in place

Step 5: Adding the beer is much easier if you gently remove the cup (but leave the stakes where thy are), fill the cup with beer and carefully sink back into the hole. The other option is pouring beer willy-nilly at the wrong angle so that the foam threatens to sop all over your garden. Trust me.

Careful with that beer! You don’t want to make the plants even tastier by sloshing it everywhere!

Step 6: Top with the jam jar lid and voila!

I don’t imagine slugs like watered down beer any more than I do

You do have to be a bit diligent about removing the slugs — I’ve discovered they aren’t as interested in beer when it smells of death. It’s pretty disgusting, but worth it. I’ve been replacing the beer every few days, although once summer hits properly it’ll have to be more frequent.

Even so, it works a treat! The sheltered dug-in slug trap.

A great natural solution to protecting my baby beans

If you try this technique, link to it so we can see! In the meantime, how do you protect your garden from slugs and snails?

Radishes, runner beans, beet seedlings, strawberries, cress and the guard zebra