What I've learned about stinging nettles

Well, I knew that they're great for cooking. Some people might even GROW them in order to EAT them. I knew they had prickly leaves, and it's an immediate pain and eventually it goes away. I knew it's not contact dermatitis like poison oak - it has to do with miniscule spines.

But when I was halfway up an embankment in Los Altos Hills, berry pot in left hand and large blackberry cluster taunting me overhead, I decided to embark on a scientific experiment, the outcome of which I was unsure.

Either I could forget about the berries or hoist myself up the embankment by holding onto a stinging nettle plant. And I wasn't sure if the STEMS were covered with the prickly nastiness.

Well, now I know. To my credit, I was only experimenting with MY OWN body, and after being an NCAA volleyball player, 5.10A climber and yogi, I figured what's a little pain?

I shall have to look it up online (when typing doesn't hurt so much) to see if there are actually MORE stingers in the stem than in the leaves. Maybe it will have a dire warning that the toxins are CONCENTRATED in the stems, and after numbing two fingers and my Oh So Important opposable thumb on the right hand, it may be years before I feel all of my digits again.

But if we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research. (Einstein)

Snail Wars

We had some unexpected days of rain last week - heavy rain. And I discovered on Saturday morning, when I went out into the garden to watch the sun rise, that the snails were very fond of the lingering dampness. They were everywhere (they are probably particularly fond of my front yard because I covered my entire yard with cardboard and compost a couple of years ago, thus destroying my lawn - but making a nice, damp enviornment for gastropods).

Thus began snail wars. That morning I was fully dressed and gloved, but since then there have been two more major battles and I've been in my nightgown and bare hands. No fear. I will prevail. I confine them in a large green cat litter container, and it's getting heavy.

Casualties (running total): Saturday - 332; Sunday - 476; Wednesday - 604.
I gave them a respite to see if they could consolidate forces and roll out another squadron. I found them in their war room today at 0600 hours, a small bush that they thought I would overlook. Ha. I am mapping all of their favorite territories and....

I'll be back.