I'm so sorry most of your red admirals have those despised cocoons, KC!! It's rare that you actually see them laying eggs, but I have seen it on a few occasions. Fortunately, the red admirals had a good year here, with very few parasitized - I released a lot of healthy RA butterflies. Unfortunately, I found those tiny white cocoons on some sulphurs, either sleepy oranges or cloudless sulphurs - 'didn't know 'til then that sulphurs could be parasitized by what appears to be the same little wasp. My false nettles have gotten taller than me ( I'm 5'5") but I don't see any cats on them presently. I have seen a few red admirals, though, so I could possibly get more in the near future. Sherry

I have alot. I would like soap, stinging nettles, white yarrow,and/or chickweed. shirleyetc@peoplepc.com

I grow nettles in a tub, it's about 20cm high but it's mostly on top of the ground (not sure whether it makes much difference). In the ground next to it is a big mugwort bush whose roots choke out everything around it. They've been there for a few years now and they haven't disturbed each other yet; the tub is rooted to the ground now but no nettled outside of the tub. I've only had them for a few years but that's my experience so far.

I read it was full of good nutrients, helped with arthritis, and is a good compost accelerator and made great compost tea.