I am a firm believer that a gardener must tend not only to the rich bouquet of plants above, but to the teaming biome below. You have to be as equally concerned with bacteria, bugs and fungi as with colour, texture and scent. Creating rich soil through compost/ teas/ and organic matter allows my garden to thrive through the worst that nature can throw at us during our short summers.
Planting flowers near my vegetables helps prevent pest insects from taking over the vegetables. Flowers like marigold and calendula act like trap plants, attracting pests on to them so they don't go onto the vegetables. Flowers like alyssum attract predatory insects like lacewings, which eat pest insects. Other pollinator flowers like borage attract a bounty of diverse pollinators and insects, which will help to out compete pest insects and ensure a healthy population of beneficial insects. Planting this way ensures I don't need to use biocides like neem oil against pests, which are harsh anti-microbial compounds that can be detrimental if used too much. It also brings color and joy and life into my garden.