NATURE -- Tune it to butterflies, starting with two possible outings  coming up on Saturday, April 23, followed by classes for understanding and appreciating these eye-pleasing insects. All of the activities are organized by the Washington Butterfly Association Spokane chapter.

Scablands butterfly field trip near Coffeepot Lake will be led on Saturday by Sue Orlowski. Timing should be good for early blues, whites, possibly green hairstreaks and some good swallowtails, she said. Early migrant nymphalids like the Painted lady and Red Admiral may appear. Group limited.

Preregister, (509) 202-5168.

Milkweed planting at Deer Lake, organized by Mike Munts, Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge in Stevens County.

Says Munts:

Join us for milkweed planting at our Kaniksu unit April 23 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Please bring gloves, lunch, sunscreen and insect repellent. Dress for changes in the weather. Our Friends group will provide snacks and drinks; an outhouse will be provided.

Our Kaniksu unit is at the east end of Deer Lake off Route 395 between Chewelah and Loon Lake. Take North Deer Lake Road off Route 395. Follow the road around the lake until you reach the closed gate past the lakeside cottages and wetlands. From the highway to the gate takes about 15 minutes.

Monarchs are dependent on the milkweed plant at all stages of their life cycle. They lay eggs on the leaves and once they hatch, the larvae feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. The larvae pupate and the pupa is attached under a leaf; the adult butterfly emerges after twelve days. Adult monarchs feed on nectar from many flowers including milkweed. Call Refuge Headquarters at 509-684-8384 for meeting time and place.

Butterfly Class for Adults, 55 and up will meet mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 3-12, at 10 a.m. near the Spokane Falls Community College campus in the Magnuson Building.  Learn to identify 30-plus local butterfly species, where to find them, and which plants make best garden plants for them. Concludes with field trip. 

Register through the Community Colleges of Spokane's Act 2 Program at sccel.spokane.edu/Act2. 

Spokane Parks and Recreation Family Butterfly Class May 19 at 7 p.m.  offers a child-friendly intro to local butterflies followed by a field trip on May 21 to test your young naturalist's field skills!  Find details in the material from the Spring Parks and Rec Catalog, or call (509) 625-6200 for details and phone in registration.

Hawk Creek Butterfly Walk, May 18.  Join Sue Orlowski for another Lincoln County adventure to the camp area and environs near Hawk Creek on Lake Roosevelt.  This should be peak swallowtails season, and should offer many other species, from blues to sulphurs and many others. 

Preregister: (509) 202 5168.