Spending time in my garden has to be one of the most relaxing things. Over the years, I’ve stumbled upon different insects, most of which mesmerizing to say the least. But honestly, nothing beats what I found that afternoon, while I was weeding around.

A small patch of soil sprinkled with tiny white balls caught my eye. At first, I thought it was just bits of plastic, maybe something the wind had blown in, but once I took a closer look, I noticed the balls were too perfect, too smooth, and honestly, too alive looking.

Just to be safe, I put on my gloves and carefully loosened the soil around them. The little spheres were soft and slightly squishy, like jelly. That’s when a strange thought hit me, they could be eggs. But eggs of what? A bird? Some insect? Or something worse?

Curiosity got the better of me, so I scooped a few up and brought them inside. Under the kitchen light, I could see faint dark specks through the translucent shells. I grabbed my phone, searched online, and instantly regretted it.They were snail eggs. According to gardeners online, a single snail can lay dozens at once, and they hatch within a couple of weeks if the weather is damp enough. What seems harmless can turn into a full-blown invasion overnight.

I also learned that in some regions, especially where tropical species are present, snail eggs can carry parasites dangerous to humans. That thought alone was enough to make my skin crawl.

I went back outside, gathered the rest of the eggs, and poured boiling water over them. Apparently, that is a trick many gardeners recommend to make sure they don’t hatch. Then I turned the soil and checked under the pots and leaves for more clusters.

Now, every time I see something shiny in the dirt, I take a second look. It’s crazy how surprising nature can be.