In this intriguing book, professional entomologist and amateur gardener Grissell suggests that it might be time to declare a truce with the insects in our lives. With a sound basis in science and a practical grounding in gardening experience, Grissell seeks to introduce the reader to insect biology and the role of insects in garden ecology. He describes the various orders of insects the gardener is likely to encounter, and writes knowledgeably about how insects grow, feed, and reproduce. Unlike other insect-related books for gardeners, this is not a handbook on how to recognize and eliminate pests. Instead, Insects and Gardens casts a more appreciative eye on the doings of the class Insecta and seeks to find a middle ground in which both human-kind and insectkind can share the garden to mutual benefit. Carll Goodpasture's remarkable color photographs reveal the captivating beauty and vital energy that insects bring to the garden. Even the most bug-hating gardener cannot fail to be moved by a gulf-fritillary sipping nectar on a passion flower or a colorful scorpionfly camouflaged on a leaf.
