As a hobby photographer, this summer, I’ve been sharing with you the beauty of my garden, especially all of my flowers. And an occasional bug. But I haven’t shared things that rhyme with bug. Until today!
I missed showing you that along the fence wall by my garden beds, I have this small container bed. It is only about 2.5 feet long and 6 inches wide.
It has housed miniature versions of marigolds and zinnias as an experiment of mine. I have a lot of those flowers in my garden, all of which grew much better outside of a container.
Once the first frost hits, the buds on all of the annuals and some of the perennials will die off and I’ll harvest the seeds so I can plant more next year.
You’ve seen most of the Blackeyed Susans photos. They are resilient and persistent flowers. Some are still growing in the rocks adjacent to the beds. I like their silhouettes in the morning light.
I’ve yet to share the flower below. They bloomed earlier in the year, in a variety of colors. Pinks, blues, whites, and purple. I thought they were all done and gone for the season, but this week a new one bloomed again. The blossom is so delicate so I had to share that first.
But, enough on the flowers! Yesterday, and today, an interesting phenomenon happened in our yard that took me on a different adventure to discover a magical invasion of sorts.
Maybe it was triggered by the full moon or the humid air and fog – who knows?
Whatever it was, it caused the arrival of new bugs, and me to look down low to the ground like Copper does.
It all started with the appearance of a slug on the window of our patio door. This guy couldn’t make up his mind on which way to go.
On a slug-worthy side note, did you know that in order to properly identify a common grey field slug, between the Deroceras agreste and the Deroceras reticulatum, one must dissect and observe the genitalia, apparently their penis tells all? And despite the temptation to compare the overall appearances to such, I’ll stay clear of that ;-).
I did not know that’s how they are identified, nor did I do that! So don’t worry, you can keep on reading. I’m going to go on the assumption that the common name of field slug will suffice for my hobbyist purposes.
Slugs like to consume a variety of decaying matter, i.e., mushrooms, earthworms, vegetation, animal matter, etc. Eww. They like to hang out in or around fields. Lucky us, we’re surrounded by fields.
When Mr. and I took off out our front door to take a walk the last two days we’ve noticed on our driveway, instead of the normal garden variety worms, a spattering of slugs. We had to dodge them as we walked. They were everywhere.
Eww.
When I returned from our walk, I went inside and grabbed my camera and headed back outside with Copper to see what we could find low to the ground.
Early fall, the crap apples start dropping their leaves and apples. If not eaten by the local critters, they will decay on the ground.
Ants enjoy the fresh droppings. Along with the rabbits and the deer. I didn’t see any of those this morning, the trail cam catches them. It’s bulletproof – not really, the woodpeckers haven’t been able to wound it like they have the tree!
But now I’m wondering if the apples also attract slugs as they decay?
I noticed the hearty thistles are still blooming.
Birds are still flitting around the yard, dropping things. A new batch of Bluebirds has flown from the nest.
Mushrooms are popping up everywhere – ugh…slugs definitely like mushrooms according to the internet.
After a short stroll around the yard, yep, I guess the slugs must think our yard is quite slug-worthy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xU8_TSmPCY
Did you know that the field slugs will spread a milky white mucus when they’re disturbed?
Eww. I didn’t disturb it, I found it this way!
The low down about slugs is, while, ‘eww, yes, they’re gross’, they are fascinating to watch and they move surprisingly fast for a slimy bug.
Even across the sand, which I would think would stick to their bellies and make it hard for them to move? Maybe he was stuck? I didn’t check?
Since the sunrise was aglow this morning, it was a great time to get some close-up shots of the side view of this very un-handsome semi-opaque slug (EWW)…
I’m no bonafide expert, but I definitely think it is a Deroceras reticulatum.
I’m not sure why the slugs have suddenly appeared in our yard, but I hope they don’t hang around for two years – (their life expectancy).
Before you go, you wanted a few close-ups, right? I got down low for you – he’s waving bye-bye to you! Until next adventure – adieu to you! Thanks for stopping by!!
Post Inspiration – Anne Christine for Lens-Artists#63 My Magical Garden and Terri over at Sunday Stills Sports or Hobbies and Sunday Stills –
PS – What magical bugs have you found in your garden? What is your hobby? Are you ready for football? Today the Vikings take on the Packers!
Ewwwww!!!! It would be awful to be a creature that elicits that response wouldn’t it?! After the hurricane we’ve all been beset by love-bugs. Small black bugs that fly as couples. Gross things that are everywhere around here. We hope they leave soon as I hope your slugs also do!
LOL – yeah, it would be awful to get that response. Yuck – I don’t like the love bugs either. I wonder if even the slugs would like them? Or vice versa. I’m with you – I hope the love bugs and the slugs find new homes soon! Thanks for stopping by to check the slugs out despite the gross factor.
Such gooey critters, ewe!! No slugs around my home. Football? Nah but thanks anyway! 😎
LOL – I’m guessing it’s too hot in Vegas for these field slugs. You know the rivalry between the Packers and the Vikings – watching it is just what we do. 😉
Photography is an amazing hobby, especially when you learn new things about what we are with our lenses! Funny about all the slugs infesting your area, at least we know caterpillars turn into butterflies, but slugs just turn in plant-eating snails…eww! This post would work for the last week’s challenge, a bug’s life. 🐝🐛
I love that about photography too. A slug’s life doesn’t sound fun to me. You’re right, it would work for that challenge. Maybe I’ll tie into that one too. And I finally realized reading your comment and Tina’s that I needed to update my goofed up spelling from ewe to eww – whew…! Thanks ladies!! xx
Well I didn’t want to be rude, but ba-a-a-a-a! LOL!
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! I was still counting sheep when I started writing the post, after some coffee and reading a few comments, I woke up to the reality of my faux pas!
I remember when I lived in Seattle. I was working in an office complex with parking lots carved out of wooded areas. They used to put out “Slug Slip Hazard” signs. They are just gross.
Oh, my, gosh, that’s a lot of slugs! They are gross, no doubt about it!
Way to make something as gross as a slug interesting, Shelley.
LOL – thank you, Janet. 🙂
Uhhh, don’t like slugs. In Sweden we have got thousands o Spanish slugs that are eating our own species…invaders they are – and eat everything! Interesting take on this!
Yikes, that’s quite the invasive species!! I’m with you – I don’t like slugs either. PS – your magical garden is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us and the prompt!
You are welcome!
Slugs aren’t at the top of my list of favorites…or anywhere near…especially after they devoured things in our garden back in Cleveland. 🙂
janet
Sorry for the delay in responding – your comment went to my spam box for some odd reason! I agree with you, slugs aren’t fun and they can be quite destructive. Thank you for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts, Janet!!
I know all about comments going into spam. Who knows why some of them get there, but most of them are definitely spam.
I have a spam blocker that catches a lot, but sometimes they aren’t really spam. Makes me wonder if some blogs are just set to autodelete spam? Hope your trip is going well!
Just arrived today and good so far. Trying to stay awake until a real bedtime. 😁
Yay – glad to hear you made it! Sweet dreams!
Thanks. I actually slept in and got more sleep than usual, so that was great.
Yay – you’re on vacation, you should get extra rest!!
Wow! Very thorough investigation. Long live the slugs!
The slugs are happy to have someone cheer them on!! 😉
Wonderful photos! I do miss having a backyard and garden, bugs and slugs included. One day we’ll have a backyard again. For now, I’ll just enjoy your photos. Thanks for sharing.
Aw, thank you, Lisa, glad you enjoyed the photos. I’m happy to share and even happier knowing they bring joy to your day!
Great photos of the slugs, Shelley.
Thank you, Maggie!
Well, that’s a part of nature that I try to avoid…but I still enjoyed your photos and research. I do admire your dedication to this study of the lowly slug. Nice job on the container flowers (are those ones that started in those colorful pails?).
LOL – sometimes nature just begs us to tell a story! At least I rationalize it that way.
Yes, they are the ones! I tried all marigolds, and they didn’t work as well in the center of the container, so I tried Zinnias – they grew, but they are short compared to those planted in open spaces. Intriguing flower. Thank you for remembering the colorful pails – they did so-so, but I did enjoy the playfulness of having them sitting around the yard.
They looked so cute in the yard – playful is the right word 🙂
Eww! Such an interesting post, Shelley! Lol. I really love your detailed account of what’s happening in your yard. I have no success in growing seedlings from from my stored seeds of Marigolds and Zinnia. Our weather is so extreme and unpredictable lately.
Aww, thank you, Winnie. Your kind words make me smile. Bummer that your seedlings didn’t make it – mine were picky about what location worked for them, I can imagine extreme and unpredictable weather would make it hard for them to survive. Hopefully next year it’ll be better.
You’re welcome, Shelley! I’m still trying. Marigolds are supposed to be hardy plants. I still have many stored so I’ll keep trying hehe.
That’s perfect – just keep trying, eventually, they’ll take off!
Yes! I needed them for my tomato plants. 😉
They do help keep bugs away, so I hear!
So very true! And they are a sight to see.
Fabulous Shelley 😉 Slugs are great. I am glad you got down and dirty to give us a glimpse of the wildlife at your place. I have had some bad apples in my life but have never eaten a crap apple 😀 😀
LMAO – thank you for catching the wind of my faux pas! I love the crab apple trees, but when they drop it’s kind of crappy – I guess there were more subliminal messages in it as I wrote the post than I realized when I published it. Even after I had cleaned it up a bit! 😉
Ha ha ha………that’s the editor in me I guess. I try not to rely on spell check. I used to get mail addressed to Dear Brain lol
LOL – I need to step away from my computer before publishing. I can see these things in other blogs right away, but my own, nope – I wait for Mr. to tease me later. He tries not to, though, I freak out in embarrassment. ;-)!
I try to read each word not speed over because I am always right 😀 😀
LOL – I appreciate the editor’s eye you have!
ok – looks like packers won the game – is that your team?
YES! It was a tough win, but at least they did win.
🙂
wel done post! your close ups are wonderful and I do wonder why all of a sudden they are coming –
I did hear that some slugs carry deadly pathogens so I would watch Cooper around them – and watch your handling of them – use a bit of 91% ethyl alcohol to clean up areas too
check out this article:
He ate a slug on a dare, became paralyzed and died
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/05/health/man-dies-after-eating-slug-on-dare/index.html
Thank you. Oh, my, goodness – that’s horrible news about the man. That chart about how it works is gross. I do know that humans can/do carry parasites in our stomachs and we can be tested for them. Yikes – I didn’t touch any of them, Copper didn’t either, but he did walk all over the area where they were coming from and where they were traveling through the yard. I need to wash his feet again!! 🙁
Hi again –
and trust me – I know a thing or two about parasites – I had a seafood parasite and then a different infection that forced me to learn a lot.
and here is a quick thing I have learned
first – we all have parasites of some sort – the earliest human remains show evidence of some type or worm –
and helminth therapy (thanks Mark’s Daily Apple for articles on this back in 2014)
well helminth therapy refers to
“deliberate infestation with a helminth or with the ova of a helminth. Helminths are parasitic worms such as hookworms, whipworms, and threadworms that have evolved to live within a host organism on which they rely for nutrients.”
__
and to keep this quick – I will get on to my next point –
so we need certain parasites
but the problems happen when
2) we have all this geographical sharing of food – in past times – people became custom to what was in their area – like hispanics in Mexico might have certain worms in that area but then their peppers and spice keep them at bay in the gut –
but we have some much mixing of foods that things have chnaged’
3) the gut in many people is “off” – like mine was – and so folks do not realize they don’t have the enzymes and normal level of stomach acid that was normally designed to destroy pathogens in the gut and keep things in check
4) leaky gut is a huge cause for parasite burdens becoming too heavy in humans –
when the lining of the GI becomes too permeable – stuff that is in the gut is allowed to enter the bloodstream and it causes problems.
5) the fat free lie has made people vulnerable (like I was cos I believed that lie in the 80s and early 90s) and good fats and oils (esp animal fats) help chelate heavy metals, candida, and certain microbes from the gut – and a fat free diet leaves people vulnerbvale and depleted.
6) certain areas are noted for specific parasites – like the Great Lakes has certain liver flukes – and they – along with other parasites – can stress immune system and it starts with thyroid problems.
—
okay – sorry to rant –
in sum, we all have parasites but when the burden gets too heavy – problems happen.
It can be helpful for everyone to try parasite cleansing – and it is imperative if they have autoimmune disorders –
Oh, my, yes, you do understand parasites well. I have a dear friend who worked for a functional med doc. They do extensive tests to identify and treat gut parasites. Our gut is extremely important, and it pays to notice when we’re not feeling well (aka, leaky gut)- and a cleansing is a great idea. Thank you for sharing details for readers here! Hope your gut health is doing well!
Hi again- and yes – gut is very well (started cleansing in 2002) and an early ,mistake I made was having a vulnerable and too sterile gut after the cleanse….
–
and wishing you a great rest of the day Shelley
Oh, my, you definitely know a lot about this stuff! I wish you a great day too. Thank you for sharing your story with us!
😊
My pleasure and quick side note – it ties into one of the reasons I try to make an effort to share when I can
Did you that in 2014 when I doing heavy research (puzzled and my docs wee clueless – they have their strengths but many GI issues are not part of their strengths)
Anyhow – am anonymous person shared all this health stuff (about cleansing and doing a tapeworm protocol and it healed all of her skin issues) and that person who took the time to share – well she changed my life forever
And the funny thing is that people were giving her a hard time – and she said that nobody really comes back to help when they are healed and only gripe when sick. Such a good point and anyhow – I think of that anon user when I get the chance to share a nugget – because it could help someone in the smallest of ways
And thanks for creating a post that led to solicit fun sharing
You’re welcome – and you’re right, you never know when your life lessons that you share will help someone else get on track to a better place in life. I’m happy you shared what you’ve learned. Thank you for doing so!
😊💪🏼
I love that first photograph!
Thank you!! Even slugs can pose for photos ;-)!
You were really up close to them! The antennae on their head gives them their unusual look as well as their slimy bodies.
Yeah, close and I used my zoom lens too. They are creepy yet cute in a way. 😉
Aha! Well up close they remind me of Little Cindy Lou Who in “The Grinch Stole Christmas” … go to about 0.28 in the YouTube video … the bows in her hair and the trailing nightgown.
https://youtu.be/IWM5uy1i9_Q
LOL – yes it does!!
Yup, knew you’d get a kick out of that!