Kidding aside, those are real names of butterflies. Just today I saw an eastern comma (Polygonia comma) in it’s summer form (black hind wings as opposed to orange hind wings for the winter form). I am secretly hoping that the early abundance of different butterflies has something to do with the native wildflowers in my yard. Or maybe they are just out earlier because of the warmer-than-usual weather. It is probably the latter since eastern commas in summer form don’t normally show up until May at the earliest. I am not the fastest photographer, and butterflies seem to know when I’m pushing the shutter on my camera and they have not been very cooperative. I got lucky today and got a decent shot of this eastern comma as it was fluttering near the surface. Eastern comma likes marshes and wet woodlands as its habitat.
The more showy butterflies such as the monarch and swallowtail may still be “waiting in the wings”, as it were, but that does not mean that Papilionidae or true butterflies are not represented this time of year. The spring azure has been fluttering about for a few weeks now, and just the other day I noticed a juvenal’s duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) in the yard, trying to blend in with the soil and mulch. This particular species of butterfly is quite common in Massachusetts (although I noticed it for the first time this week), and can be seen from April to early June in or near oak woods. Unlike other species this butterfly is generally single-brooded, meaning that there is only one generation each year. The larva are fully grown when they overwinter.
I was able to acquire a few pieces of rootstock of white trout lily last year, and put them willy-nilly in the garden without having too many expectations about the outcome. After all, immature plants produce a single leaf and fail to flower – so at best I was foreseeing a lot of dappled leaves for the next few years. Only mature plants bloom. I was happy to see plants emerge that had two leaves. In white trout lily speak this means that those plants will produce a flower. Even without a flower present, the leaves make an attractive ground cover. Plants multiply rapidly by root offshoots and seed, but you should always expect more single leaves than flowers…
You may remember my post last year about the 
One story unit w/ open floor plan, lovingly maintained. Seeking clean and interesting tenants for seasonal occupancy. Property abuts woodland and wildflower garden. Two other units available still. Serious inquiries only. Open house 24/7…
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) is a European and North American plant of the buttercup family. It is one of the most ancient native plants and I am frankly not quite sure whether it originated in Europe or in the Americas. It may have been growing here since before the last Ice Age and, after the retreat of the icecaps, it proliferated across the watery landscape.  It is still mostly found in wet places such as creek banks and low lying areas. I say “mostly” because I’ve seen it in uphill and dry areas as well. I have them in a location that is likely much drier than they would like, but they are exposed to the harsh sun only part of the day, and they seem to be thriving even though the plants I have are still relatively small – some road crew had done some work on an embankment and marsh marigolds had been dug up, displaced and thrown by the wayside. I am hoping these rejects will thrive in their new home. The leaves are round and glossy and the plant has large buttercuplike bright yellow flowers. The tops are reputed to be toxic but with boiling become edible and are often eaten as greens while young; the flower buds have been pickled and used as capers, and the flowers have been used for beverages. Some individuals may develop a rash or skin irritation from touching the plant – I found out the hard way that I am one of those people. Marsh marigolds bloom in early spring and are done blooming by late spring. 
