Gardeners tend to have a love-hate relationship with insects. We cringe when we see plant shrivel under insect scourges, but do we pay as much attention to the daily activities of the good guys?  he vast majority of insects are beneficial—“the little things that run the world.”

About 300,000 flowering species worldwide interact with some 3,000,000 insect species, worldwide. While so outnumbered, how do the plants survive all the munching?

(Shhh….don’t tell the BIG BUGS but in fact, the plants outsmart the bugs)

 Native plants and insects have formed complex partnerships, and flowers have evolved with their pollinators. Even while outnumbered, the world is still green because the plants have found ways—from trickery to chemicals to body-armor—to outsmart the best of the bugs. Plants have also co-opted insects into facilitating their own reproduction, dispersing their seeds, and even protecting them from predators.

Take time to soak it in

 Although some may first think of insects as “creepy crawlies” or pests, take a few minutes to observe the remarkable features of very special partnerships. Pretty soon you’ll love bugs as much as we do. From “pollinator runways” on flowers showing insects exactly where to land, to special aromas attracting that “special someone” tuning into these special relationships is all part of the BIG BUGS fun. Check out details at our book, BUGOLOGY by Bonnie Drexler, for special explorations for all seasons.

Start a native plant wildlife garden

 Bring your own BIG BUGS home with a native plant garden. Here are some of our very favorites to attract butterflies. Ask our staff at the nursery which ones are best for the special conditions for your own backyard habitat. While not all species are available on any given day, you may choose from hundreds of native species perfect for New England-the largest selections anywhere.

Great wildlife plant list by Rolf Cachat-Schilling, Society Horticulturist

View more at his late summer article in People Places Plants Magazine

Chokecherry (Aronia species) – zones 3-8. That expensive and healthy Aronia juice comes from an easy-growing shrub that both bees and butterflies love.  Add great fall color, and you have the perfect medium-to-large shrub.  Some species grow well in moist soil and some are great for upland areas.

Joe Pye Weeds, Bonesets, and White Snakeroots (Eupatorium, Eutrochium, and Ageratina species) – ranging from zones 3-10. Towering over the moist meadow, this group of free-blooming aster family giants have bumped around the halls of taxonomy over the years.  Though the names are a bit tangled, moist have in common a love of rich, moist soil and sun (there are a few  dry woodlanders).  Butterflies take no note of name changes and love them equally, reliably seen on the oversized flowerheads.

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) – zones 4-8.  Unbeaten butterfly feeders, the aster family is one of our largest and most appreciated in the garden.  Tall and free-flowering from pink to purple, New England aster appreciates moist soil, but will tolerate dryness once established.  Short cultivars are available and all are loved by a wide range of butterflies.  Try Prairie aster (Symphyotrichum turbinellum) for drier soils.

Orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa ssp. tuberosa) – zones 4-8.  Few plants give such knockout color on lean and dry soil.  Taking a few years to reach its glory, orange butterfly weed ranges from yellow to almost brick-orange, always drawing Monarchs and swallowtails.

Pink tickseed (Coreopsis rosea) – zones 4-9.  Coast-bound through much of its range, and rare in many places, this little aster member is an overachiever in flowering.  Skippers and other butterflies enjoy the extended late bloom season.  Thrives on sun and well-drained, but not terribly dry soil.

Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) – zones 4-9. Not a garden bully, purple milkweed is a choice and rare favorite of monarch butterflies.  This is both a larval food plant and adult food plant. Full sun and medium to dry soil are its likes.  These are self-sterile, so buy from more than one source if you want them to multiply

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Queen-of-the-prairie (Filipendula rubra) – zones 3-9.  Unique plumes grace this statuesque wet meadow denizen, which hold then fade to a bronzy hue in fall.  Both bees and butterflies visit readily and this plant provides texture and form contrast.

Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) – zones 4-9. Few flowers have the sweet pungency of this tall shrub, also called sweet pepperbush. Bees and butterflies adore it, blooming mid-summer when many plants are on hiatus. Grows happily in medium to wet soil and tolerates drought once established, with rich fall color.