Kitchen Garden Forum

There's a thread on foxes where someone (sorry - can't remember who!) says how her husband 'marks' their garden's boundary to frighten off the foxes. (What has he been drinking? ).
This got me thinking about the various mildly or not so mildly embarrassing things I do in the garden.
One I was doing today in hayfever season was dealing with my suddenly copiously running nose. Sometimes I'm caught short without a hanky and have to make do with fingers (hopefully out of sight of the neighbours).
Another thing I find slightly embarrassing is that I can't bring myself to kill slugs or snails that I come across and will instead walk the length of the garden to put them in the compost bin. A bit silly really considering they're eating my crops. I kid myself that it's because everything has its place in the ecosystem but it's really because I would feel sorry for them if I squished them.
Come on, 'fess up, what embarrassing things do you do?

I rescue ladybirds - my plot abounds with them and they all go scuttling when I finally weed or clear up. I can't bear the thought of injuring them with whatever implement I'm using and will wander up & down looking for a suitable new home. I also relocate them if I find I have disturbed hibernating ones in the winter. Oh yes, I also put back an old compost bag that had been lying on the lottie for some months when I found that a ginger bummed bumble bee had made a nest underneath it in the ground. Dear, oh dear! I could go on, but I really do need some sleep tonight!

Dear Jenny, i can't say anything springs to mind.
There again i might not be able to tell you.

There was the time when i had been standing on a very aggressive red ants nest, my boots and trousers were covered by the time i realized.
So i was desperately trying to get my trousers off, when i noticed the old girl that lives next to the allotments watching.
We still laugh about it now.

I ask my plants (out loud) what on earth they are up to, if they are misbehaving. I also ask them to grow nicely for me & if they need a little drinky, and I tell off the slugs and snails before removing them, and telling them it serves them right for being so greedy!
Emma

It's probably the talking with me too. Did you know most pests are born of unmarried parents? I don't think it encourages the birdsong that much them being told they are appreciated and the butterflies probably know they are pretty (like young ladies but OH would know more about that).

We have several tame blackbirds who come to (and into!) our door for currants. One male, a very distinctive one, we call "Blackie", and my husband will insist in calling to him "Blackie, Blackie" which worries me just in case a coloured (am I allowed to say this?) gentleman or lady come past at that moment and take offence!