Okies for Monarchs

10/06/2026

Howdy monarch fans! 👋 🦋 Are you eager to learn how to tag Monarchs? We’ve got a treat for you! The Edmond Urban Forestry, Government and Okies for Monarchs invite you to join a hands-on community science event where you will have the unique opportunity to catch, tag, and release monarch butterflies!

We will also have a special guest! Dr. Emily Geest, ecologist and butterfly conservationist for the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden will also be joining us to share her expertise and experience with the new solar-powered transmitter tags.

Be sure to visit the Pop-Up Nature Center for fun, hands-on activities, resources, and butterfly crafts!

📍Where: Mitch Park Pavilion 5 (just north of the YMCA building)

🗓️ Registration: Please register every member of your group in advance so we can prepare! https://edmondok.civicrec.com/OK/edmond-ok-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTE2OTA1NzM=

10/02/2026

From the bottom of our fluttery hearts, we are grateful to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for the opportunity to engage in such meaningful conservation connections. 🧡🦋 We look forward to spreading our wings and continuing this program in to more facilities throughout the state. This work would not be possible without the support of all the monarch license plate owners and the Kirkpatrick Foundation.

09/30/2026

The Oklahoma skies are turning orange with kaleidoscopes of Monarchs! 🧡🦋 Show us your monarch pics in the comments below! 📸 Keep up the great work reporting your sightings to Journey North. 🙌

09/25/2026

🍂 Fall is a great time to plant a pollinator garden! 🌧️ With rain on the way, now is the perfect time to add native plants to your landscape and start planning for a garden that supports pollinators throughout the growing season. 🫶

🌼 Choose native plants and plant for diversity. A variety of native species provides food and habitat for monarchs and other pollinators while creating a stronger, more resilient garden.
🦋 Plan for blooms from spring through fall. Include early-, mid-, and late-season bloomers so pollinators have a steady source of nectar throughout the growing season — without relying on too many of the same plants.
🌱 Don’t forget milkweeds! Native milkweeds are essential host plants for monarch caterpillars and an important part of a monarch-friendly garden.

🤔 Not sure what to plant? Check out our regional plant lists for Oklahoma, organized by early-, mid-, and late-season blooms. Our What to Plant Top 12 Plant Lists, available in English and Spanish, can help you choose diverse native plants that provide food and habitat throughout the year.

📥 Downloadable PDFs are available on our website. Link 👇

09/25/2026

🦋 Monarchs are on the move!

As fall settles in, monarchs are passing through Oklahoma on their long journey south to Mexico. You may see them nectaring in gardens, fields and along roadsides as they fuel up for the miles ahead.

🧡🖤 But not every orange-and-black butterfly you see is a monarch! 👀 Several species can look remarkably similar.

🔍 Take a closer look at this graphic to help identify the monarchs passing through and the other butterflies you might encounter along the way.

09/22/2026

📆 There are tons of events happening across the state this week, so get out there and get your nature on! 💚 Celebrate new pollinator gardens, attend a monarch festival, go to a garden party, or visit native plant nurseries. 🦋🌻🐝

🌱 September 24 – Pollinator Garden Ribbon Cutting at Norman City Hall with the City of Norman, OK - City Government
🍻 September 25 – ZooBrew at Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
🌿 September 26 – Garden Party with Friends at Will Rogers Gardens in OKC
🦋 September 26 – 5th Annual Monarch Festival at Mollie Spencer Farm in Yukon
🐝 September 26 – Pollinator Party at Ray Harral Nature Center in Broken Arrow
🌱 September 26 – Native Nursery Crawl with Oklahoma Native Plant Network in Oklahoma City
🦋 September 27 – Monarchs in the Park at Ruby Grant Park with the City of Norman, OK - City Government

🤝 Invite a friend! Which one will you attend?

Find more details at 🔗 in the comments below ⬇️

09/21/2026

🌔 Lights Out for Fall Migration - Now through the end of October, we ask that you turn off non-essential outdoor lights between 11 PM – 6 AM to protect migrating birds and vital pollinators. 🦆🦋

💡 Artificial light at night disrupts natural behaviors, reduces pollination, and can draw wildlife into unsafe areas—impacting birds, moths, monarchs, and more.

Simple actions make a big difference:
• Close blinds at night
• Don't use landscape lighting
• Use warm, down-directed, motion-activated lights when needed

🔭 Together, we can reduce light pollution, save energy, protect wildlife, and bring back the stars.

🔗 Learn more at link in comments.

09/20/2026

🦋 Ever wondered how scientists track monarch butterflies on their incredible migration?

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden Conservation Scientist Dr. Emily Geest recently showed how tiny radio transmitters are safely placed on monarchs to track their movements.

▶️ Watch to see how it works and learn more about the science behind following these amazing travelers! 🦋📡

The OKC Zoo's Conservation Scientist, Dr. Emily Geest, recently sho...

09/18/2026

🧡🦋 Join Okies for Monarchs and the City of Norman, OK - City Government as we celebrate the creation of their new pollinator habitat through the Pathways for Pollinators & People initiative! 🦋🧡

Pollinator Garden Ribbon Cutting
📍 City of Norman - 201 W Gray St. Norman, OK 73069
📆 September 24, 2026 - 5:30 pm - 7:00 PM

Come check out the new habitat and learn how you can create a space like this in your own yard!

Join us and...
🦋 Visit the Okies for Monarchs outreach table for pollinator resources and free milkweed plants while supplies last.
🔍 Explore the City of Norman's new gardens
📷 Get your photo taken by the new Rick Sinnett monarch mural
🌼 Shop from local native plant vendor Sanctuary Gardens
🪏 Snag a free design from Eco Landscaping
💌 Make seed balls and seed packets
🙌 Play pollinator bingo with a chance to win prizes
🍧 Enjoy music while staying cool with a free sno-cone

This habitat is part of a statewide effort to create pathways for pollinators and people, helping communities support biodiversity and expand pollinator-friendly spaces across Oklahoma.

🫶 Funding for Pathways for Pollinators & People is provided by the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Oklahoma Monarch Society.

🎉 We look forward to celebrating this exciting addition to Norman's growing network of pollinator habitats with you!

🔗 More information about this event at the link in comments!

09/17/2026

🦋 Celebrate monarchs this fall! Oklahoma’s monarch festivals are a great way to learn more about these incredible butterflies, enjoy hands-on activities, discover native plants and celebrate Oklahoma’s important role in the monarch migration. 🧡 Check out the upcoming events below and find one to enjoy this fall!

📅 September 19 | 9 AM–1 PM
🦋 Monarchs on the Mountain
📍 Chandler Park, Tulsa

📅 September 26 | 9 AM – 12 PM
🦋 5th Annual Monarch Festival
📍 Mollie Spencer Farm, Yukon

📅 September 27 | 11 AM – 4 PM
🦋 Monarchs in the Park
📍 Ruby Grant Park, City of Norman, OK - City Government

Find a festival near you and celebrate monarchs! 🦋🌻

🔗 Find these events and more at the link in the comments! 👇