Garden pests

Slugs are the bane of my life. Or rather, the bane of my garden.

My poor pansies have lost the fight against the slugs (and possibly the weather), although the pansies that I have got in troughs at the front of the house are doing very well.

My foxgloves were left alone for a while, but now have been decimated by slugs. AS a result, I've put slug pellets out again, and now thanks to the dead slugs, there are lots of flies in the garden. *sigh*

My aquilegia (columbine) which was doing so well in the spring are having been looking sunburnt and rather sad lately, so today I cut back all the yellow and brownish leaves and have discovered that there are lots and lots of greenfly and/or aphids on them, which could have something to do with them looking a wee bit forlorn. I did spy one tiny yellow ladybird too, but the infestation is so bad I'm going to have to treat the plants with insecticide spray.

The front lawn desperately needs a mow, but today is one of those days where it is blinding sunshine one minute and then dark grey clouds the next. Five minutes ago it was glorious sunshine and blue skies and I thought that I'd mow the lawn after lunch. Now the wind has picked up and there are ominous grey clouds overhead.

The grass seeds that I sowed a couple of weeks ago in the stupid border at the front of the house are doing very well (as are the weeds!). Once I do manage to mow it, I'll be able to get a better look at how things are going and I'll probably actually do some weeding to make things neater.

Photos may be forthcoming (I didn't do before and after ones of the aquilegia, unfortunately).