Makes perfect sense actually -- if you were building a nest, wouldn't you choose the most comfy material you could find. And please, nothing with mildew on it. You'll probably never see one (I haven't caught one yet), but look at this cool Youtube video linked below, to see one in action. Here is a link that might be useful: Leafcutter Bee on You Tube

Grasshoppers are usually the culprit for me when some plant has been chowed down. Can't say that I have seen them eating my butterfly bush though.

In Squirrels defense, even though I don't like them stripping trees. Squirrels are smart if you measure smart by problem solving ability. I have watched them learn how to get to feeders that I have hung in the yard. We once had a tilt a wheel feeder. Corn on the cob on arms that rotated. I have watched them come running down the tree jump on one of the arms and ride it around and round until it stopped spinning. Some times it seemed they did it just for the ride. This is but one part of a series of shows produced by the same people, you can do a search to find the other parts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY9Yf26J4ZM Someone else was fascinated by their problem solving ability. There is nothing you can do to keep them out of your yard so you may as well enjoy their activities.

I love my animals, but they're always making more work ... and they never clean up after themselves. :) See now if the horse just did some beneficial pruning or deadheading it would be fine. Or if he snipped them and brought you a bouquet. Or if he smartly fed them his own manure. But no. He has to do it his own way. I'm constantly lecturing my dogs to help out by digging my planting holes for me or at least to clean the dishes. They never listen. Instead they dig around my roses to eat the alfalfa. One of them just ate the last Falstaff bloom the other day too. I don't blame him because they smell so good.... but argh!!!!!