Where was I? Oh yeah, what's eating the basil???
I told her that it was probably nothing and that the basil was probably just lagging a little behind this year. Apparently not convinced of my gardening expertise, she decided to have a closer look. That's when I heard her say the words that gardeners dread:
"Is that a...SLUG?"It was...I mean...THEY were!
How's this possible? Our herb garden is on the roof of our building?
I'm guessing that the little "effers" came in on one of the plants I bought at the local nursery, and then began multiplying exponentially. Regardless of how they made it to the rooftop, they HAD to go.
We spent the next hour or so getting rid of about thirty slugs. Mrs. TBF would find them with a flashlight, and I'd pick up the slimey Satanic spawn and flick them over the side of the building. Oh, by the way neighbors who live two floors below us: Sorry! I didn't know you were down there on your patio enjoying an after-dinner drink until I heard your voices...right after flicking about fifteen slugs right in your direction. I hope none of them landed on you.
After getting rid of all the slugs we could by hand, we then set beer traps. In case you don't know, beer traps are a great way of getting rid of slugs. Just sink a little bowl into the soil so that the lip is at ground level. Then, fill the bowl up with beer. The slugs are drawn to the beer like steel to a magnet, they begin drinking, get drunk, and fall in. MWAAAAAH-HA-HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Wait a second...hedgehogs?
Yup...hedgehogs! God forbid you should harm hedgehogs in Switzerland. I think killing one of these fleabags results in a fine AND death by hanging, or something like that.
Alls well that ends well...
I just checked the herb garden this morning, and there appears to be no evidence of any remaining members of Satan's brood.
I plan to keep it that way!