Biologically active natural products are derived from three major sources: the fermentation of microorganisms, higher plants, and insects. However, compounds derived from these sources may act within each or all of these domains. That is, compounds derived from microorganisms and higher plants may affect insects and vice versa. Often, natural products are obtained in limited quantities and small yields do not lend themselves to extensive testing. During the past three years there has been increased synthesis of natural product templates and their analogs for evaluation in biological systems. Relative to these approaches, assorted natural products from microorganisms, including oligopeptides, acyclic polyketols and some relatively simple molecules are examined. The brassinosteroids and photodynamic herbicides, from higher plants, are discussed. Finally, compounds that are produced by insects, or which affect insects, are reviewed.In common with my primal ancestors, whose life began in a garden, my first recollections were not so much of people but of trees, flowers, the sun, rain, clouds, blue sky, and the sound of the cuckoo. Especially imprinted on my senses was the peppery smell of lupin at the early age of two, and there followed the scent of roses and English lavender: dire warnings about foxglove and deadly nightshade were issued as I wandered about gardens. An introduction to the world of secondary metabolites had started early in life and subsequently led to my first scientific job, in the mid