Garden Pests

 Helix aspersa, the common garden snail

My lettuce crop is under severe threat from blasted slugs and snails. Nocturnal attacks have really taken their toll on my poor helpless lettuce plants. I refuse to use slug pellets of chemicals on organic principles. So over the last few months we have tried everything else. River Cottage inspired night time slug hunting expeditions have been about the most disgusting and yet probably the most successful. The only equipment required under the cover of darkness is a flash light to spot the blighters, gloves, tongs or trowel and a bucket of water. I will leave the gruesome details to your imagination!

My Garden Hero

 

Diarmuid Gavin’s West land Magical Garden: the journey begins. 

 

 

 

 

 

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My gardening hero, Diarmuid Gavin made a series of short videos documenting  the progress of his Chelsea Flower Show entry for 2012. Diarmuid's 2012 project was as ever, controversial. Known as 'Diarmuid Gavin's magic pyramid' by some and as 'his enormous erection by others'. The theme behind the project is based on the principle of vertical gardening and the ideology of shared green space in urban environments. Diarmuid says the new design is inspired by ideas of sustainability and city living, as well as the cramped apartment blocks from Hitchcock's Rear Window. Apart from the fact that Rear Window is one of my all time favorite films. I am including this video for a couple of reasons. Firstly because I genuinely admire Diarmuid's approach to garden design. He will always come up with something thought provoking. Secondly because we share a love of the Wicklow landscape, notice the breath taking view of the Sugar Loaf in the background. Thirdly because my garden actually features in some background clips, watch out for the wildest looking garden in Wicklow apart from Diarmuid's own that is.