I want lots of predators in my garden before the inevitable aphids show up. So I make sure to have something in bloom all season.

Blooming plants in the landscape are good-looking, reliable pest control. A hedgerow, meadow, or herb bed provides pest-control year after year in spots that might otherwise be bare or weedy. Seasonal flower borders or groundcovers bring their good effect right into your garden beds. It's a well-proven strategy that's made a big difference in my garden, and on farms across the country. I've formulated some new mixes for different spots in the landscape. Each one works for a different niche--seasonal or permanent, tall or short.