A ladybug on a green stem

The Bugs Every Gardener Should Know — Friends and Foes

Sylvia Duruson

Gardening is a delicate balance of nurturing plants while managing the vast ecosystem that inhabits your outdoor space. Among the most significant players in this miniature world are insects—some beneficial allies that protect your garden, and others that seem determined to destroy your hard work. Understanding which bugs help and which harm your garden isn’t ...

A medium-sized insect hotel

How to Build a Bug Hotel and Boost Backyard Biodiversity

Sylvia Duruson

Tucked away in garden corners and nestled among native plants, bug hotels have emerged as charming yet powerful tools for conservation-minded homeowners. These structures—essentially artificial habitats made from natural materials—provide essential shelter for beneficial insects that pollinate our gardens, control pests naturally, and contribute to local ecosystem health. By building a bug hotel, you’re not ...

Pollination

Pollinators in the Garden: How to Attract Bees, Butterflies, and More

Rica Rosal

As gardens burst into bloom each spring, they become bustling ecosystems where plants and pollinators engage in a beautiful, life-sustaining dance. Pollinators – including bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects – are essential for the reproduction of nearly 90% of flowering plants and 75% of our food crops. Yet today, many pollinator populations ...

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Organic Pest Control: Insects That Keep Your Garden Healthy

Rica Rosal

When it comes to maintaining a thriving garden, many gardeners instinctively reach for chemical pesticides at the first sign of trouble. However, nature has already provided us with an elegant solution to pest management – beneficial insects. These helpful garden allies work tirelessly to control pest populations, pollinate plants, and contribute to the overall health ...

The Secret Lives of Soil Insects: What’s Crawling Beneath Your Plants

Rica Rosal

In the hidden world beneath our feet, a bustling metropolis of life thrives in darkness. Countless soil insects—often overlooked and underappreciated—conduct the essential work that keeps our gardens flourishing and ecosystems functioning. While we admire the beauty of plants above ground, an intricate drama unfolds in the soil beneath, involving creatures that decompose, aerate, hunt, ...