Late Summer Monarch Love! 🦋☀️

© Jim Hudgins/USFWS

Summer Lovin' Monarchs in September

For fans of monarch butterflies, Oklahoma is a fun place to be right now. The reproductive monarchs arrived several weeks late and eggs are just starting to appear for the ‘bonus generation’ that will join the larger migration as they become adults. Toward the end of September, we tend to get the major influx of the peak migration, which will either mean we get to see lots of beautiful monarchs visiting our gardens – or that we'll need binoculars and a comfy chair to observe them coasting on the south-blowing currents hundreds of feet above us.

How Will This Month Play Out?

© Jill Haukos/Konza Prairie Biological Station

USFWS Proposes ESA Protections for Both Subspecies of the Regal Fritillary Butterfly

Heads up, y'all! The USFWS recently proposed federal protection for the regal fritillary butterfly under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). This is a different butterfly than the bright orange gulf fritillary which is currently very active in Oklahoma. We’ll keep you posted as this develops, and encourage you to plant food and habitat for regal fritillaries in the form of violets. They make great ground cover, too! Comments on the proposal may be submitted until October 7.

Read More About The Regal

New Study: Neonicotinoids - Particularly From Treated Seed - Found to Drive Butterfly Declines More Than Any Other Environmental Variable

While many of our readers understand the importance of knowing that the monarch support plants they purchase are free of harmful chemicals, especially the dreaded neonicotinoids, or neonics for short, this recent study illustrates the terrible harm to birds and insects – particularly to monarchs – caused by neonic treated agricultural seed. The contamination is not limited to direct contact with plant parts, but also through the tendency for these chemicals to migrate into the soil and water, as well as from dust generated at the seed planting stage. There are suggestions in this article, such as expressing concerns to your legislators and an effort to address this in the Farm Bill, but another important way to help is to consider organic options for the products you buy that are most likely to be from treated seed, such as corn, canola, soy, sunflower, and other vegetables, as well as cotton crops.

Dig In To The Full Study

Wings at the Ready: Festival Season is Here!

Get ready, pollinator people. Fall is right around the corner, and that means PARTY TIME! We're looking forward to celebrating together across our great state throughout September and October, and will be at the following events with seed packets, resources, and friendly conversation for all:

Sept 14 - Monarch Butterfly Day at Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur
Sept 18 - Final Midweek Farmers Market, Scissortail Park, Oklahoma City
Sept 19 - The Monarch Waystation at Martin Nature Center in OKC
Sept 21 - Monarchs on the Mountain at Chandler Park in Tulsa
Sept 28 - ONPN Fall Festival Plant Sale at OSU Extension in OKC
Oct 5 - Monarch Migration Celebration at Martin Nature Center in OKC
Oct 5 - Monarchs in the Park at Andrews Park in Norman

Can't make it to any of these? Not to worry! There are TONS of opportunities to engage year-round. Check out our events calendar below.

Upcoming Events

September 11, 5 pm - 6:30 pm
OKC Beautiful Sustainability Social Hour
Sailor and the Dock, Oklahoma City

September 11, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Ethnobotany Hike
Martin Park Nature Center, Oklahoma City

September 13, 1 pm - 2 pm
Guided Gardens Tour
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City

September 14, 9 am - 3 pm
Native Plant Sale
Blue House Urban Farm, Oklahoma City

September 14, 9 am - 11 am
Pollinator Garden Build at Esperanza Elementary
Esperanza Elementary, Oklahoma City

September 14, 10 am - 5 pm
Monarch Butterfly Day
Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur

September 14, 10:30 am - 2 pm
Lawton Gardeners Society Fall Plant Swap
Voodoo, Lawton

September 14, 12 pm - 4 pm
Curiousiday: Monarch Marvels
Sam Noble Museum, Norman

September 15, 1 pm - 3 pm
Oklahoma State Fair Free 4-H Monarch Crafts
Oklahoma State Fair OK Expo Hall, Oklahoma City

September 18, 6 pm - 9 pm
Final Midweek Farmers Market
Scissortail Park, Oklahoma City

September 19 - October 31, All Day
Autumn in the Botanic Garden
Tulsa Botanic Garden, Tulsa

September 19, 7 pm - 9 pm
Habitat @ Home : Monarch Waystation
Martin Park Nature Center, Oklahoma City

September 21-22, 8:30 am - 5 pm
Central OK Cactus & Succulent Society Fall Show n' Sale
Will Rogers Gardens, Oklahoma City

September 21, 9 am - 3 pm
Milkweed Plant Sale
Blue House Urban Farms, Oklahoma City

September 21, 9 am - 1 pm
Monarchs on the Mountain
Chandler Park Tulsa Oklahoma, Tulsa

September 21, 10 am - 11 am
Creating a Monarch Waystation
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City

September 22, 3 pm - 5 pm
Habitat @ Home : Glorious Graminoids
Martin Park Nature Center, Oklahoma City

September 23, 6 pm - 8 pm
Monarch Media Monday
Williams Lodge, Tulsa

September 24, 1 pm - 2 pm
Tracking Shifts in Food Availability for Monarchs and Other Pollinators
Webinar, internet

September 25-26, 9 am - 5 pm
Restoring Our Lands Conference
Euchee Butterfly Farm, Bixby

September 27, 6 pm - 9 pm
ZOObrew
Oklahoma City Zoo

September 28, 9 am - 12 pm
Monarch Festival
Mollie Spencer Farm, Yukon

September 28, 9 am - 4 pm
ONPN Fall Native Plant Festival
OSU Extension Center, Oklahoma City

September 28, 10 am - 11 am
Guided Gardens Tour
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City

September 28, 10:30 am - 12 pm
Become a Pollinator Hero + Monarch Tagging
The MAC at Mitch Park (Multi-Activity Center), Edmond

October 5, 10 am - 2 pm

Monarch Migration Celebration
Martin Park Nature Center, Oklahoma City

Sat, October 5, 2024 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wildflowers: Fall, Fun & Friends
Nathan Hale Library, Tulsa

October 5, 1 am - 4 pm
Monarchs in the Park 202
Andrews Park, Norman

October 5, 4 pm - 6 pm
Route 66 Plant Swap

Riverview Park – Miami OK, Miami

View All Events

Okies for Monarchs is an initiative of the Oklahoma Monarch & Pollinator Collaborative and the Oklahoma Monarch Society, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Flutter over to our web site at okiesformonarchs.org

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PO Box 54952
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73154
USA