I used to admire the look of weed-free lawns I would pass while on my daily walks in spring and summer—no dandelions, no clover, no creeping charlie—and wish my lawn were similar. I had all those “weeds,” and more: plantain, wild strawberry, you name it. Not that I would ever use herbicides on my lawn, though sometimes as I pulled creeping charlie that had crept not only through my lawn, but also into my veggie and flower beds, I felt sorely tempted.

Now, though, I see my lawn with new eyes: a place full of life, rather than the dead zone that a perfect (and usually herbicide-treated) lawn is. We call certain plants “weeds” because we don’t like their look or where they grow, but many of them are beneficial, both to us, and to beneficial insects. Bees, for instance, that are under threat from pesticides and herbicides, love the clover flowers in my lawn. Sometimes I find more bees on the clover (we mow our grass high, so often have lots of clover flowers) than on other bee-attracting plants in my garden.

One of the earliest “weeds” to appear in the spring is the dandelion. A veritable war is waged every spring against this plant, yet all parts of dandelions are edible and rich in antioxidants. Their flowers are one of the earliest in the spring for bees to feed on; dandelion’s peak flowering time is from late March to May, when many bees and other pollinators emerge from hibernation. Each flower consists of up to 100 florets, and each one is packed with nectar and pollen, making this early, easily available source of food a lifesaver for pollinators in spring. Bumblebees, solitary bees, and honeybees all visit the flowers for food.

Yet despite the benefits of dandelions, herbicide ads on TV and the Internet invariably feature an intrepid suburban householder, armed with his herbicide sprayer, dousing the plants, then watching with smug satisfaction as they wither and die. I call these ads anti-life, because not only do they wage war on an innocent and highly beneficial plant species, but the use of herbicides (and pesticides) on lawns is hazardous to pets and children alike, and the chemicals eventually find their way into our water sources. If you’re super concerned about dandelions taking over your lawn, though (your neighbors might give you nasty looks if you live in suburbia), then consider just removing the seed heads once they form. That way, the insects get to enjoy the flowers beforehand. However, if you’re not concerned about dandelions spreading, consider leaving those seed heads: the seeds are a favorite of many birds, including blackbirds, goldfinches, sparrows, siskins, and towhees.

Another important way I’m seeing with new eyes is my attitude towards insects. Have you noticed that there are far fewer of them around these days? We’re in the middle of what’s being called an “insect armageddon,” with insect populations plummeting. Not only does this have dire consequences for our food supply (35% of global food crops are pollinated by bees and other pollinating insects), but also for the many species of animals that rely on insects for food. Many of us are afraid of insects, and I used to be as well, since when were young, most of us were taught to fear insects or find them disgusting. Except for poisonous ones, many insects are our friends, and now I view them that way. So whenever I find any in my home, I either try to shoo the flying ones out a window or door, or gently catch crawling ones and take them outside. I also coexist with spiders, as they catch and eat insects we consider household pests, such as roaches, earwigs, mosquitoes, flies, and clothes moths. If left alone, spiders will consume most of the insects in the home, thus providing effective and chemical-free home pest control. I find myself leaving spider webs alone for longer periods of time. But when I do dust (when preparing for a party or a song circle, for example), and find a spiderweb with its resident spider, I gently remove the web, so the spider doesn’t get injured and will live to build another web and help me out with those darned mosquitoes and flies. And just in case you’re wondering: Scientists say that pests like flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches may actually increase in numbers in coming years, so don’t worry about your resident spiders feasting on them!