Lyr Req: The Anti-Garden Song (Eric Kilburn)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 May 02 - 06:32 AM

I once made an electric fence to keep off slugs and snails. Just two parallel lines of copper wire stapled to wood about a quarter of an inch apart connected to the poles of a 1.5v dry battery. Boy! - have you ever seen a gastropod jump! I suppose it's a bit like the mild shock you can feel when you put your tongue across the connections of a battery - but over a much larger percentage of the critter's body. Still it worked beautifully - and the AA battery lasted the whole year.

Of course it's quite satisfying to make a trap with a bit of stale beer in a bowl - at least they presumably die happy - although I reckon some of them get out for a pee two or three times before their demise.

A french friend of mine actually goes out early in the morning to catch snails - and then cooks them with garlic butter - he says they're tastier than the big ones which are sold for eating.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Crowhugger
Date: 06 May 00 - 03:50 PM

Rich, it sounds like the slugs are too full to move after the hosta feast, lucky for your irises. What's the last/first frost date for USDA zone 3?

CH.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: raredance
Date: 05 May 00 - 11:33 PM

If I remember correctly (and Aux can can stomp out this misinformation if my mamory is garbled) Iris germanica is one of the original parent species from which the wonderful rainbow array of tall bearded irises is descended. If that is the case, most of them are quite hardy. I grow lots of bearded iris, 50-75 varieties ( and a few beardless ones as well, Siberian, Spuria) in my USDA zone 3 gumbo garden. "Gumbo" refers to the light gray/tan clay that lies 6-8 inches below the black soil in my yard. I think the gumbo extends down nearly 200 feet, all sediment from glacial Lake Aggasiz. In the heat of the summer cracks develop that I think go all the way to the bottom. You can turn the hose on and run it for an hour without ever filling up the crack. While this may not be the preferred environment for iris, they do grow and bloom, although perhaps a bit smaller. Slugs live in those cracks also. Wouldn't surprise me if species from another hemisphere were able to come up through those cracks. The slugs really do a number on my hosta collection and can make some ugly holes in tomatoes, but I havn't had a whole lot of iris decimation from them.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Crowhugger
Date: 05 May 00 - 08:52 PM

Tune check--the verse is the same as the chorus? I haven't heard this in a while, the original or the parody.

Thread creep alert
Aux, you make growing irises sound simple enough if one is willing to give some time. Are these irises fairly hardy? How little sun is enough? Hardpan is about 18" beneath the clay in most of my yard; moisture, right, but what about wet feet ... kniphofia was killed by this problem I think. If you join Mudcat you can e-mail other 'Catters through the personal pages and you DO NOT get junk mail. I've never got a virus either.

Re: slugs ... I do the drown-in-beer thing, which catches a lot of earwigs too. I forget if it's the hops or malt that's irresistable. Not affected as much by light rain as by hot sun or heavy winds because the alcohol is what cuts their slime so they can't get out. Couldn't say for sure if they actually drown or if they pickle. But it works well, a 10-day to two-week blitz 2-3 times per season. Post-playoff party dregs work fine, as does botched homemade batches.
/Thread creep

Singin' in the rain,
CH.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 05 May 00 - 02:03 PM

Glad I checked into this - Sick twin gave ME his disea (singular of "disease" in case you were wondering) but well twin stayed well, which made for one very tired and sick me with no desire to read hard enough to transcribe. Glad you got the lyrics...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: GUEST,Auxiris
Date: 05 May 00 - 03:10 AM

I knew there was a hitch with using wood ashes, but then again slug pellets need to be renewed as well, so I may try wood ashes anyway.

Thing is, now that the weather's warming up, there's no need to make a fire in the chimney anymore so my supply of ashes will run out rather rapidly. . .

Well, I'm off to have a look at the flowers my new hybrids are producing. . . maybe there's a champion in the bunch.

cheers, Aux

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: MMario
Date: 04 May 00 - 01:39 PM

DRY wood ashes will prevent slugs crossing, as will dry lime. Needs to be reapplied after a rain, and sometimes after heavy dews...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: GUEST,Auxiris
Date: 04 May 00 - 01:30 PM

Hello, everyone. Gypsy, I'd also like to say thank you for the tip about copper. I'd never heard that before and, while I don't like to use slug pellets, I didn't know what else to do, though I had heard that wood ashes work to some extent.

Peg, the best thing to do---though I know it's lots of work---is to wait until late June or so, dig up all the iris crowns, divide them and then dig up the entire flower bed before re-planting. Dividing the rhizomes will re-vitalise your irises and they will bloom better. Also, they will probably appreciate a dose of fertiliser that has an NPK balance of about 6-8-12 or 5-10-10 both after their blooming period and then again in March.

Thanks once again everyone.

cheers, Auxiris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Peg
Date: 04 May 00 - 12:04 PM

thanks for the tip about copper, never knew that..i have lots of lovely irises in my yard the former owner planted years ago but many of them are choked with grass now...i have dug up lots of them and tried to subdivide but it is a pain with the grass growing around them... i do love these flowers though, especially the delicate, candylike fragrance...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Gypsy
Date: 04 May 00 - 11:36 AM

On the iris...if you don't want to use poison to rid them of slugs...go to the nearest sheet metal shop, and get copper ends. Then put them round your plants. Snails and slugs won't cross copper, sets off a mild electrical charge in their slime. Won't work once it oxidizes tho. Just think, and electric fence for slimy things!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From:
Date: 03 May 00 - 06:26 PM

Here's the original written by Dave Mallet as in the DT database:

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2176

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From:
Date: 03 May 00 - 06:19 PM

Here's the original written by Dave Mallet

http://www.arlo.net/lyrics/garden-song.shtml

It includes the "Slug" variant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: GUEST,Auxiris
Date: 03 May 00 - 12:24 PM

Thanks, Musicman; now I can sing that while having "fun" in the garden instead of cursing. . .

Having said that, I'd like to add that nothing, absolutely NOTHING beats the taste of home-grown vegetables and fruits.

Many thanks to everyone.

cheers, Aux

Subject: ADD: The Anti-Garden Song (Eric Kilburn)^^
From: Musicman
Date: 03 May 00 - 11:54 AM

slug by slug, weed by weed,
My Garden's got me really teed
All the insects love to feed
upon my tomato plants
Sunburned face, scratched up knees
My Kitchen's choked with zuccinies
I'm shopping at the A & P next time I get a chance.

The crabgrass grows, the ragweed thrives,
The Broccolli has long since died.
The only things left still alive are some radishes and beans.
My carrot plants are dead and gone,
Hear the rabbits sing a happy song
Until you've weeded all day long You don't know what bordom means

Chorus

You get up early, you work till late
Watch moles and mice get overwait
They eat their dinners on a plate from the hard work you have done
As ye sow so shall ye reap,
But I smell like a compost heap
I'm gonna get that lousy creep
who said gardening was fun

Enjoy,

Musicman ^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: GUEST,Auxiris
Date: 03 May 00 - 11:20 AM

MMario, can't say yet if I have any rejects; this year will be my first viewing of the vast majority of the '97 crop and part of the '98 crop.

I did have the great good fortune to have 2 of the '97 bunch bloom last October, one of which was good enough to register with the American Iris Society. I have yet to see the 9 other plants obtained with this particular cross bloom. . . only another week or two to wait!

If you know someone who is interested in irises and would like to communicate with me by e-mail, they can contact me at [e-mail]

Sorry for the thread creep, all. . . well, at least it was garden chat.

cheers, Aux

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: MMario
Date: 03 May 00 - 10:57 AM

aux - if you want to get rid of any "rejects" I know someone who will take them.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: GUEST,Auxiris
Date: 03 May 00 - 10:49 AM

Hello, everyone. . . thank you all for answering so quickly.

I should have known it wasn't "inch by inch", but couldn't remember, as I only heard it sung once by a friend of mine in the States many years ago.

As for the "experimental iris garden" I referred to, MMario, I have been crossing different varieties of iris germanica for the last few years to try and create new hybrids and now there are over 300 of them to take care of. If you have ever weeded out iris crowns, you can appreciate how much time it requires, as sometimes the only appropriate tool is that wondrous thing on the end of one's arms known as a hand. I can certainly appreciate the "slug by slug" bit in the song, as slugs really love to eat irises!

I don't happen to have RUS and would very much appreciate it if you have time to transcribe it, Mrrzy. Hope the sick twin will be well soon and that the well one won't catch whatever bug it is. . .

cheers, Aux

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 May 00 - 10:12 AM

Let me know if you don't have RUS, and I can transcribe. Am home with one sick and one well twin, so I can find the time, I think...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: MMario
Date: 03 May 00 - 10:11 AM

Slug by slug, weed by weed Boy this garden's got me t'd All the insects come to feed On my tomato plants

Sunburt face, skined up knees The kitchen's chocked with zuchinis I'm shopping at the A&P's Next time I get the chance

experimentel iris?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Barbara
Date: 03 May 00 - 10:02 AM

It's in Rise Up Singing, AKA, the Blue Book; The Blue Bible... and I'm sure someone here can transcribe it or scan it...
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: Jacob B
Date: 03 May 00 - 09:54 AM

The first line is "Slug by slug, weed by weed", it's called "The Anti-Garden Song", and I believe it's by Ben Tousley, although I'm not sure.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: inch by inch, weed by weed
From: MMario
Date: 03 May 00 - 09:47 AM

off on a tangent....experimental iris garden??

Subject: Parody of Garden Song
From: GUEST,Auxiris
Date: 03 May 00 - 09:41 AM

Hello, everyone. I'd be much obliged if someone here at the Mudcat could supply me with the lyrics to this parody of the "Garden Song" that I only know the first 2 lines of:

"Inch by inch, weed by weed, my garden's really got me teed Mice and rabbits love to feed on my tomato plants. . ."

Between my large garden and orchard, my experimental iris garden and my mother-in-law's garden, I'm already starting to feel the strain this year and I'm sure that this song would help me get through the summer.

My heartfelt thanks in advance. . .

cheers,