The most common butterfly I have seen this spring is the Red Admiral. This black butterfly with orange accents flies somewhat erratically. It is hard to tell what it is until it lands. The butterfly is more on the small side when you compare it to large butterflies like swallowtails and Monarchs..

It will be present in our area from spring all the way through September or October. There is some debate about whether they can hibernate in regions with cold winters like we have. More likely, the butterflies we see here in the spring have migrated north from warmer climates.

Red Admirals are a good insect to use to bring up the topic of "what is a weed?"

For example, like most people, I view dandelions as a weed. I remove dandelions from my landscape (pulling/digging... no chemicals). However, did you know they are a welcome plant for bees, who don't have as many options early in the year?

Another example is the classic Monarch Butterfly. Monarchs must have the milkweed plant in order to lay their eggs, but for many years milkweed has been seen as a weedy nuisance. Now, Monarchs are running out of these vital host plants.

Red Admirals require plants from the "nettle" family in order to lay eggs. The larva needs these specific plants to develop into a butterfly. However, from what I understand, nettle is not a friendly plant if you happen to brush against it. Different types of nettle are called "stinging nettle" to reference the irritation they cause when touched. In other words, people would rather remove these plants. But in doing so, the Red Admirals lose crucial habitat. There is one nettle called the "false nettle." It does not cause the stinging sensation. I have introduced it into my garden this year, right next to a shrub that the adult Red Admirals love to feed on. My hope is they will lay eggs on the false nettle and I will be able to follow the life cycle of one of these beautiful butterflies from egg to adult. I look forward to sharing it with you.