My little garden – or what I call a garden, but are in reality just a few stamp-sized patches stolen from public space around our flat – gives me much joy.

Apart from the pleasant look of plants and flowers and some vegetables to eat, this year I am especially taken by the big amount of insects buzzing about.

Maybe because here in Europe everyone (in their right mind) are really worried by the rapid dwindling of insects. 75% of them are gone already.

I was hesitant to believe this, when folks around here started to discuss the “Insektensterben” (dying of insects – in German this is a noun already) a few years back. But then they mentioned windscreens and how many dead insects one had on them in summer after driving anywhere a few decades back. In comparison to today. This argument really made me think, because it is absolutely true. I hated having to scrape what felt like a million of dead flies and moskitoes and what not off the front screen of a car after almost every ride when I was young. These days: next to none. I know, this is the most un-scientific argument, now replaced by exact measurements of many an institution netting insects all over the country. But it stuck and made me plant some bee-friendly flowers, hang up bug hotels and put up watering places . I am no more fond of bugs than the next person, but do understand, that from pollenising to simply being bird food, insects play a critical role and are vitally important to us humans. And some of the buggers are even pleasant to look at. Bumble bees, especially. They are so clumsy and look almost cuddly. Bees and even warsps and hornets I like, too.

All of the above seem to be very fond of my thyme bushes, which are in full bllom right now. The bumble bees like clover also in bloom right now. I let some of the grass grow wild, for exact that reason. Worked…