Although gardeners may be tempted to classify insects as either pests or beneficial organisms, the reality isn’t so simple. Successful gardens mimic nature, where diverse organisms keep each other’s populations in check to create a natural balance. For example, at first glance, insects that eat your plants (like aphids) might clearly fall into the pest category. However, look deeper, and you might learn that these “pest” insects are an essential food source for the beneficial insects that you welcome to your garden (like lady beetles/ladybugs). Thus, these so-called pests are beneficial in their own way. In our garden lesson plan, "Bugs in Balance," students explore the needs of insects as a step toward viewing their garden as a complex ecosystem and habitat for a multitude of life forms. Find it through the link in profile! {Image description: A handmade sign that reads "No Spraying Please" with yellow and pink flowers in a mulched garden.} #KidsGardening #KidsGarden #SchoolGar...