inspired by new growth

We have been struggling most of the Summer with this clematis. The plant on the adjacent pole is romping away but for some reason our little garden friend, the slug, prefers this one and has been eating the shoots faster than they can grow.

In the end, we resorted to slug bait. It is organic, but I'm not sure if the slug appreciates that. It's victory for the plant and death to the slug, I'm afraid.