Nasturtiums and Snail's Shells

Nasturtiums are amazing!  They are so easy to grow from seed, come in some of the most brilliant colours and are edible!  

I've got them scattered all around the garden.  This week they've finally started to bloom.

They do have one habit that can be a bit of a problem....they love to ramble. Nasturtiums will sprawl all over the place once they get going.

I've got an idea.  I am going to see if I can encourage this plant to grow up a cane.  It's in a big pot by the kitchen door.  The plan is to just pop out and pick the flowers when I want to make a colourful salad.  

I understand Calendula flowers are edible, too.  I've got some of them growing just outside the French doors.   Speaking of French... here's a little trick I saw in a French garden.  

The blackbirds are always eating the snails in my garden and leaving empty shells behind.  Pop an empty snail's shell on the end of your garden stakes. The round shell protects you from impaling yourself on the stake when working with leafy plants.  C'est si bon!