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58 | SignatureMT Text & Photos by Melinda Myers A garden filled with flowers, birds, bees and buerflies is a sight to behold. ese winged beauties add color, sound and motion to our gardens. Plus, they help maximize a garden's productivity by pollinating plants and man- aging plant-damaging pests. But what about those unwanted vis- itors to the garden? e aphids, mites and cabbage worms that feed upon our plants or the mosquitoes that feed upon us. ere are ways to have a beautiful garden and at the same time enjoy the outdoors when we work with nature to manage our landscape. Add a birdbath, a few birdhouses and plants for the birds. ey'll repay you by eating many of the insects that feed upon your plants. Include seed-bearing plants like coneflowers, Rudbeckias and cosmos as well as berry plants like Juneberry, dogwood and firethorn. Add an evergreen and a few trees for shelter and nesting, if space allows. Include a hummingbird feeder and a few of their favorite flowers like columbine, salvia, penstemon, and phlox. en watch as these fast flyers feed upon aphids, mites and mosquitoes in between sips of nectar. While watching the birds, bees and buerflies, examine your plants for garden pests. Catching insects early may mean the difference between a successful harvest and disappointment. Before reaching for the pesti - cides and destroying their food source, aract the good guys and manage unwanted pests Garden WORK IN CONCERT WITH NATURE TO MANAGE GARDEN PESTS AND MOSQUITOES IN THE LANDSCAPE Butterflies need to drink, but they can't do so from birdbaths or fountains. To attract butterflies, include one or more puddling sites. Sink a dish tub or bucket in the ground, fill it with sand, and make sure to wet the sand down with your garden hose each day. Oasis