Karoliina turned her 80-square-meter garden into an oasis for insects—“Many have been amazed by how many buzzing insects there are”

TA flower crab spider has found an excellent hunting spot in the center of a pink strawflower. This spider especially likes white and yellow flowers and changes its color to match. It blends perfectly into the flower’s white and yellow center.

At the beginning of the summer, the crab spider had been residing in an alpine clematis, then it moved to a blue eryngo. When the strawflowers opened their round buds, the flower spider immediately took advantage of the opportunity.

Illustrator Karoliina Pertamo is well acquainted with the life of the white flower crab spider, as she observes its activities in her garden daily.

“I noticed that the flower crab spider catches a hoverfly or another insect every other day and munches on it atop the flower. Once, the spider disappeared, but returned a couple of days later with its offspring.”

The flower crab spider can change its color according to the color of its hunting platform, the flower. The spider catches its prey in a flash with its long and curved limbs.

Observing insects is Karoliina’s favorite garden activity.

Strawflowers, tall verbenas and many other insect-attracting flowers grow in the front yard of a rowhouse in Espoo. The yard is divided into two parts by an outdoor storage shed. The sunnier side is mainly reserved for herbs, vegetables, and annual flowers, while the shadier side offers various nesting and shelter spots for insects among the plants, as well as drinking bowls for birds and insects.

The west-facing backyard has berry bushes and shade perennials, among other plants. A couple of small lizards have settled there, while the fluttering and buzzing of butterflies arrives only in the afternoon with the sun’s rays.

A paved path divides the front yard into two parts. The garden storage and perennial plantings are on the left side; herbs and annual flowers are on the right. Joining the garden chores is Haiku the dog.

Berry bushes, like the pink-berried ’Aili’ redcurrant, grow in the backyard. Plant clusters bloom from spring to fall for the delight of insects.

Under the ’Aili’ currant blooms the yarrow ’Terracotta’.

Ten years ago, after moving into the house, Karoliina wanted to make her yard, above all, a pleasant place to spend time. She began to observe the nesting of various bees and wasps, and gradually her interest expanded to all insects. Nowadays, for Karoliina, the most important thing is that the garden provides a habitat for insects and birds.

“I think of my garden as a pearl on a string. I hope there are more oases for insects nearby so they can move around easily.”

A dish filled with stones is a safe drinking spot for insects. The garden offers various shelter and nesting spots for them as well.

Karoliina wants to share her garden philosophy with others as well, such as passersby who marvel at the blooming maiden pinks and catmints outside the fence. She believes it's important to show that even a small rowhouse yard can be diverse and lush.

“Many have been amazed by how many buzzing insects there are here when they are missing from the surroundings otherwise. I myself always find it just as amazing.”

Layered and abundant vegetation provides shelter and food for insects and birds. The dainty lilac flowers of the tall verbena are favored by butterflies. A nasturtium weaves among the clematis growing next to the gate.

Maiden pink covers this sunny spot.

Anise hyssop is one of the insects’ favorites. Like many other herbs, it's an excellent nectar plant.

Phacelia grows quickly and thrives even in modest conditions.

Showy bloomers are important to Karoliina only when they benefit insects. Delight to the human eye is not reason enough for her to acquire a new plant.

“There is such a large selection of plants available, so why wouldn’t I plant only species that benefit insects? Plant choices have a huge impact,” Karoliina explains.

One of Karoliina’s favorite plants is catmint, especially the tall-growing variety ‘Six Hills Giant’, which blooms from June until late summer. A male wool carder bee buzzes around the pale lilac, sprawling blooms, fiercely guarding his territory.

“The wool carder bee takes fluff from lamb’s ear and other plants for nesting material and makes a nest in a hole in a fence or wall.”

The wool carder bee appreciates the flowers of the ‘Six Hills Giant’ catmint. The nearly one-meter-tall plants lean casually on others.

Perennials and herbs favored by buzzing insects include the lesser calamint, purple bergamot, wild bergamot, globe thistle, and blue eryngo, as well as the thymes creeping along the paths and over rocks. Among annuals, Karoliina praises strawflowers, tall verbenas, American basketflowers, and phacelia as good butterfly plants. She grows marigolds in her garden every summer to attract butterflies and bumblebees. Another favorite is the abundantly blooming zinnia, which produces plenty of pollen.

The annual, over one-meter-tall ’Rosy Lilac’ American basketflower is accompanied by a tall verbena.

A single or semi-double-flowered variety of zinnia is better for insects than a fully double-flowered variety.

The blossoms of the martagon lily are especially important for moths.

A red admiral sips nectar from a strawflower with its long proboscis.

Haiku relaxes in the shade of the potting table.

The annual calliopsis is a good butterfly plant. Next to it blooms the French marigold ’Burning Embers’. The purple bergamot in the background is a magnificent plant for buzzing insects.

The insect garden has been put together with little effort, according to Karoliina, and its maintenance feels very easy as well. The layered vegetation with ground cover plants thrives without watering; only the potted plants and raised beds need water during dry spells.

“The garden feels like its own ecosystem and a bubble where I feel welcome,” Karoliina says.

As if to prove her point, a dragonfly whizzes onto Karoliina’s hair, before continuing its journey to the light green lettuce leaves.

Observing insects and birds has taught Karoliina to look at her own garden with gentle eyes and to appreciate imperfection.

“It’s easy to accept wild, rampantly growing vegetation, when you see how beneficial it is.”

In a diverse garden, damage by insects is minimal and usually takes care of itself naturally.

“The ‘Black Lace’ elder always gets aphids in early summer, followed soon by their natural enemies. If you want ladybugs and hoverflies in your garden, there needs to be food for them.”

Karoliina has noticed the number of insects increasing every year. Every summer feels like an adventure, bringing something new to marvel at and examine.

Borage and dwarf marigold.