Multitaskers

For a garden filled with beautiful blooms that insects and furry foragers won’t touch, plant these four naturally pest-resistant plants:

Lemon thyme: If neighborhood cats are using your garden as their litter box, this citrus-scented herb will have them searching for another place to do their business. The ASPCA rates this annual herb as nontoxic, but cats don’t like the scent, making lemon thyme a safe way to keep Fluffy out of the garden.

Zinnias: This colorful annual is a feast for the eyes but not for deer. Zinnias have prickly centers that deer / Rabbits will avoid.

The easy-to-grow annuals are native to Mexico and come in a range of colors from red and pink to yellow and white. They grow best in full sun and well-drained soil and bloom all summer long. Marigolds: The flowers of these bright orange and yellow annuals are edible – and make a delicious addition to salads – but rabbits don’t like the bitter flavor and will leave marigolds alone. Marigolds also repel mosquitoes and aphids, making this triple threat a great choice for the garden. Marigolds thrive in full sun but will also tolerate partial shade. The summer-blooming annuals can be grown in garden beds or pots and will tolerate poor (but moist) soil. Columbine: The star-shaped flowers of this colorful perennial make it a pretty addition to the garden. Native to wildflower meadows, columbine attracts bees, birds, and butterflies but is resistant to deer and rabbits. Columbine thrives in partial sun and will tolerate shade; the plants grow best in moist, well-drained soil and can reach up to eight feet in height. The flowers bloom in a range of colors from red and yellow to blue and pink.