More than yield in the garden

For a gardener, yields are a common measure of garden success. Plant 6 cucumber plants, 5 plants grow and produce expected yields, that part of the garden is a success. But there are so many things in a garden that are out of our control – the weather for starters, pests like squirrels that eat seeds before they germinate and more. One success that I’ve seen in my garden this year is the number of insects. Butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, flys, wasps, bees, fireflies, and that’s just what I’ve seen. I’ve also seen a few Japanese Beetles, but there are definitely more beneficial insects than harmful insects. And the beneficial insects are plentiful this year! Even if the plants aren’t all producing well the garden is a huge success this year. More beneficial insects means more food that’s attracting these insects. That food is hiding in the soil in the form of microorganisms. Or in the mulch layer on top of the soil. Or on the plants themselves. Even if the plants are producing like I hoped, there is plenty of activity in the garden and it is fun to watch. I hope the insects enjoy the garden as much as I do.