Spiders are beneficial predators because they eat insects. So by spraying insecticide, you may have killed the spiders who were doing you a favor. The spiders might be there on your plants because they are feeding on the insects that are chewing up your flowers. Have you checked the plants carefully to see if there are things crawling over it other than the spiders? Have you checked at night? Have you looked on the underside of the leaves? Have you opened up some of the buds to see if there are worms inside?

I've got spider webs all over my plants and yard, but I know they are doing more good than harm.

Most likely they were crab spiders. As was said, they are beneficial in that they help limit insects. These particular spiders sit, crab-like, waiting to nab the unwary insects.

The critters damaging your flowers are most likely small caterpillars, at least that was the case when I lived in SoCal.

They can "hide" right before your eyes. Look carefully in/on the flower itself. They're often resting in the center.

Thanks for the tips... I will take a closer look at the flowers both in light and dark. caterpillars was my guess too... but as u said jean, may be they just slipped my eye.
Thanks again