Okies for Monarchs

05/22/2026

🪏🌻The third annual Sustainable Urban Landscape Conference returns June 26–27!
Hosted by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and OKC Beautiful, this conference brings together residents and professionals who care about creating landscapes that are both beautiful and resilient.

With 20+ engaging sessions, attendees will gain practical skills and fresh ideas for adapting landscaping practices to a changing climate while building more sustainable spaces for our communities. Changing our landscapes for a changing climate. 🌎

More information and registration at link in comments ⬇️

05/21/2026

🔍 The Truth About “Natural” Mosquito Sprays & Essential Oils 👉 Just because it’s labeled “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective.

👇 Learn more about effective, pollinator-conscious mosquito control at link in comments.

05/20/2026

🧡🖤 Think you spotted a monarch? You’re not alone. This time of year, plenty of orange-and-black butterflies are on the wing and several of them look surprisingly similar. Check out this graphic comparing monarchs with other orange butterflies commonly found in Oklahoma.

05/16/2026

05/15/2026

Some conversations are difficult to start — especially those involving neighbors, yards, and pesticide use. Check out this helpful guide from the The Xerces Society on how to approach these discussions with empathy, active listening, and a focus on shared goals like protecting pollinators, pets, people, and local wildlife.

It can feel difficult to convince others to use fewer pesticides, especially if they are not already interested in conservation. We have advice to navigate the conversation!

05/14/2026

We had a fantastic time at the 🌻🦋 Route 66 Native Plant & Pollinator Festival 🦋🌻 in Elk City a few weeks ago! Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, and helped make the event such a success. We loved connecting with the community and celebrating native plants and pollinators together. 🧡

📣 We’ll be headed to Tahlequah on Sunday, September 13th, and we hope to see you there! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.

Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Oklahoma Biological Survey Oklahoma State Parks Johnston Seed Company North Fork Red River Conservation Sanctuary Gardens Wild Roots

05/13/2026

🧐 Looking for ways to connect with nature, support pollinators, and enjoy Oklahoma’s gardening community? There’s something for everyone this weekend, from native plant inspiration to plant shopping and volunteer opportunities!

🧡 May 16–17 – 🏡 Tulsa Audubon Society's 33rd Annual Garden Tour & Native Plant Sale in Tulsa - Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sunday, 12–5 p.m.
Explore beautiful gardens and get ideas for creating wildlife-friendly landscapes with native plants.
🧡 May 16–17 – 🌱 Planta Palooza at Anthem Brewing in OKC - Saturday, 2–8 p.m. | Sunday, 2–6 p.m.
Grab a beer, shop local plant vendors, and enjoy live music, food trucks, and plant workshops.
🧡 May 17 – 🐝 Metro Park Median Pollinator Planting at Diversion Hub in OKC with OKC Beautiful - 12–5 p.m.
Help clean up neighborhood medians and plant pollinators along Linwood Ave.

Find more details at the link in the comments 👇

05/11/2026

Roadside habitat is doing more than making Oklahoma beautiful—it’s helping power our food system. 🌼🚗 Did you know pollinators support 1 in 3 bites of food we eat? 🐝🍑 In Oklahoma, that impact adds up to $157 million annually for our agricultural economy.

Through innovative roadside habitat programs, partners like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Color Oklahoma (a committee of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society), and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful are:
🦋 Feeding pollinators
🧑‍🌾 Supporting farmers
💰 Saving resources with smart roadside management

These organizations also contribute to the Oklahoma Monarch & Pollinator Collaborative, a program of the Oklahoma Monarch Society, advancing pollinator conservation efforts across the state.

Growing beauty. Supporting wildlife. Strengthening Oklahoma.

Learn more at link in comments 👇

05/08/2026

Hey, Oklahoma! Did any of your tagged monarchs make it to Mexico? Tell us, we want to know.

🏷️ Last fall, Okies for Monarchs and Dr. Emily Geest from the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden joined local farmer Landon Rodgers and his mom Vickie near Tipton, OK, where thousands of monarchs gathered during their southbound migration. Together, we tagged 190 monarchs through the Monarch Watch program to support migration research.

Now we’ve learned that multiple Oklahoma-tagged monarchs were recovered at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary more than 1,000 miles away!

🦋 Tipton recoveries (Oct 10, 2025):

🧡 AJLH493 (female)
🧡 AJLH543 (male)
🧡 AJLH565 (female)

🦋 Additional Oklahoma recoveries:
Janet Horner of El Reno also had two female monarchs recovered at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary:

🧡 ALHT448 tagged Sept 27, 2025 at Mollie Spencer Farm traveled 1,111 miles
🧡 ALHT491 tagged Oct 4, 2025 in El Reno, OK traveled 1,108 miles

These recoveries highlight the incredible journey monarchs make from Oklahoma to Mexico and the value of community science in tracking their migration.

Interested in tagging monarchs this fall? Pre-order tags through the Monarch Watch tagging program and be part of this important community science effort! Link in comments. 👇

05/07/2026

🦋🌱 You can still pick up your Pollineighbor Starter Pack from Blue House Urban Farm! Each plant selected comes from our Central Oklahoma Regional Plant List for Monarch Butterflies making it easy to support pollinators right in your own yard. Plus, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Oklahoma Monarch Society.

Grow something that gives back. 💚

https://www.bluehouseuf.com/store/p/pollinator-starter-kit

These 16 pollinator plants will bring all the pollinators to your yard, but are specifically tailored for the Monarch butterfly. A portion of all sales will be donated to Okies for Monarchs. The kit includes 12 native plants and 4 varieties of milkweed that will provide blooms for the entire seaso

05/07/2026

🐝 Get inspired with the Less Lawn More Life webinar series, then get out and explore local composting and gardening festivals or even volunteer at a pollinator planting. The choice is yours! Check out these upcoming events:

🧡 May 7 – Less Lawn More Life Kickoff with Wildr Places (Online Webinar), 6–7 p.m.
🧡 May 9 – 🌱 Compost Festival with Oklahoma Compost and Sustainability Association at Scissortail Park in OKC, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
🧡 May 9 – 🌸 Oklahoma City Flower & Garden Festival Myriad Botanical Gardens in OKC, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
🧡 May 9 – 🐝 Triangle Park Pollinator Planting w/ OKC Beautiful at Triangle Park Pollinator Garden in OKC, 9–11 a.m.

Find more details at the link in the comments 👇