WHO KNEW Our Pollinator Gardens May Have Caused Worm-Free Apples?

For some years now I have been replacing the lawn with a pollinator garden. `Pollinator’ plants are native plants selected so that throughout the season something is always in bloom, providing nutritious pollen and nectar. A large variety of insects are attracted to feed on the plants for energy and sustenance. Some plants actually have ingredients that protect insects from certain diseases. This year, the plants finally were large. They blossomed profusely, set seeds, and filled in the garden beds.

Near the pollinator garden is a tall hemlock hedge in which birds roost and nest. The number of birds increased notably this year, as the garden had become a smorgasbord of insects and seeds. Also near the garden and hedge is a largely neglected apple tree. These apples make wonderful applesauce, but wormholes, due to long gone moth larvae, had always made the apples unappealing to look at and a nuisance to prepare.  This year, despite the freak frost in May, we had a bumper crop of apples that were attractive and had no wormholes!

Why was that? You are invited to speculate on the saying that the whole natural world is connected.