Looks like termite larvae.

Looks like termites

yup!

You could feed them 2 by 4's, but they are very expensive right now.

WHAT?? How do I get rid of them!? Should I worry about them??

Yes, you should worry. They can/will migrate to your house. I'm not sure what you do when they are in the garden. Perhaps someone here has better knowledge, otherwise you could call a pest control co. to see what they recommend... which I'm sure will be their services.

I used to live in Silicon Valley, CA, in a former orchard. We had subterranean termites, feeding on the roots of the removed trees.

I used to use chemicals that are now restricted, then I moved.

re worry: the termites may begin to eat your house.

You should dig around the immediate periphery of your house and see if they have colonized there. Right now. If they are IN your house, the strategies for removal and destruction become significantly more complicated.

It appears they are only in one small section of soil far from the house so I think I will try to solve it before it gets out of hand. Any suggestions?

Was this by chance in wood mulch? You might contact your County's Extension Service for any ideas they might have.

It is possible that They rode in on a bag of compost or mulch. They are only in this one area out of all my beds. That is what I’m thinking. Perhaps I will treat aggressively and plant only flowers there

Hopefully nothing is growing in that area, in which case you could dump a few kettles of boiling water there to kill the nest. If the mulch can be easily removed & disposed of, that is another option. I would still recommend having your home inspected by a professional.