I’ve been attempting to grow various types of nectar rich flowers for various stages of a monarch’s lifecycles. I planted various milkweed species that supposedly are perennials in Oklahoma. Last summer, 2018, I actually saw adults lay eggs, the caterpillars, then the offspring during their return to Mexico. Praying the milkweed comes back.
We planted a small backyard raised bed of 70’ x 3’ anchored by 2 Dynamite crape myrtles to each side and 7 Green Tower boxwood shrubs for height and chrysalis formation. To attract butterflies, we chose Buddleia Flutterby Petite butterfly bushes, blue puffball petite vitex shrubs, blue fortune hyssop, lantana annuals, and parsley as host plants for black swallowtail butterflies. Clover was also planted for use as green mulch to discourage weeds. Milkweed was planted, but failed. We hope to succeed with new milkweed plantings this year, but we did succeed last fall in attracting monarchs during their migration. What a joy!
The southwest corner of the front yard is where I grow all of the pollinator-friendly plants I can get my hands on. I have planted mostly perennials, but I will switch out annuals in colorful pots because I love an ongoing project. Feel free to take a peek if you’re in the area! (Warning: May not be a good stop for people who are afraid of large dogs because mine will want to check you out.)
Seven 10×10 unframed canvas fluid acrylic paintings of monarchs to be released the first day of spring 2019.
A backyard habitat garden where sass and frass are never in short supply.
Volunteers at the Bristow Museum, which is inside a 1923 FRISCO Train Depot, have added a beautiful butterfly garden for visitors (and Monarchs) to enjoy. Listed as a Monarch Watch Waystation in 2017, the volunteers have loved sharing in the beauty of the flowers while knowing they are assisting with the migration and survival of the monarchs. Stop by and visit the museum, enjoy the train depot, and visit the butterfly garden.
The Lazy KT Ranch near Freedom, OK is fondly known to many as the ‘home of JackAss Ridge’ (due to 4 adopted wild burros & 3 mustangs that run free on our ranch). It is always our priority to utilize beneficial land stewardship practices aimed at restoring the prairie, while eradicating the ever invasive Eastern Red Cedar. This means applying fire to the land in a prescribed burn setting with the help of our local prescribed burn association members who belong to the Cimarron Range Preservation Association in Freedom, OK.
Prescribed burn associations reflect a great culture of neighbors helping neighbors to safely conduct prescribed burning on a large scale basis. By using prescribed fire and a grazing plan to restore our prairies, we are geared towards great improvements of the land that in turn promotes habitat enhancement for wildlife, monarch butterflies and prairie chickens, at the same time increasing pounds of growth in our progressive cow-calf Black Angus cattle operation. We apply prescribed fire to the land on a regular basis to benefit our ranch.
Since we started using fire, we have seen a huge increase in the desired wildflowers and milkweeds that the monarch butterflies need and love, plus the return of a nice mosaic diversity of plant species and native grasses. We also cultivate wildflower seeds and desirous flowers in our yard to promote monarch habitats. Check out our facebook pages for both the Lazy KT Ranch and the Cimarron Range Preservation Association.
We have a garden project and greenhouse where we plant and sell bedding plants. We will encourage our customer with the bee and butterfly plants! And we are also planting a butterfly friendly bed!
Madison Elementary in Norman has been adopted by Lowe’s Home Improvement. In the last year, we have built a 2500 square foot garden which includes 4 large raised beds, 14 pollinator beds and a 10’ x 16’ greenhouse. We are in the process of building a 200 square-foot monarch waystation. The fourth and fifth grades have been responsible for figuring the amount of stone and dirt we will need to purchase, what plants and supplies we need, and what is required to become a certified way station. They are completely in charge of our budget and contacting businesses to check pricing.
The Papilion is a seasonal open-air butterfly house located in Honor Heights Park in Muskogee, OK. The only butterfly house in Oklahoma, The Papilion is home to ~300 native butterflies from mid-May through the end of September. Pollinator and display gardens, some of which change annually, surround the house and attract many species of native butterflies and other pollinators. A small admission fee helps offset butterfly and maintenance costs. Open daily beginning the Saturday before Mother’s Day through September 30. Hours: Monday – Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 1-4pm. Limited hours on holidays: 9am-2pm. The Papilion also hosts a tulip garden display in early spring.
