An increase in the abundance and diversity of insects

By: Eliza
​When I used to hear people give presentations about the abundance of insect life in their gardens I felt such intense jealousy that I flooded my brain with boredom to stifle it. “So? I could do that. Probably.” Then I would leave the presentation and scheme or putter in the yard, unsure if I would

 ever be able to nurture a habitat so full of life. 
Well, all it takes is one year of letting things get a little wild, bringing in leaves and wood chips, and applying no chemicals whatsoever. This year we’ve seen the diversity of insect life increase by, conservatively, 500%. I have no way of documenting this number, but Adam and I are fairly certain we saw less than twenty types of insects last year. This year we see different kinds every time we go outside. I would say diversity truly increased around 900% but I don’t want to exaggerate.
I gave a weird presentation for the Hamden Land Trust that I can’t decide if I’m embarrassed about. The theme was all about letting your yard go a little wild, just pulling invasives, and naturally allowing the native plants that exist there to take over. It felt like a weird presentation just because most people suggest plant choices and combos but I was like “just don’t”.
Anyway, I started this post and took these photos several months ago. I don’t see many of the insects pictured anymore. The balance has shifted to mostly dragonflies, damsel flies, wasps, and another one of those huge honking spiders.
Here are photos from two walks around the yard  in late spring.