Snug as a Bug: Protective Practices for Winter Months
We recently had the opportunity to join our friends at Native Plants Nursery for a winter tour of their facilities, and it was nothing short of inspiring! From a five-star hotel for bugs and birds to a simple shelter local bees will adore, there’s no shortage of fun to be had as we patiently wait for spring. Come along as we discover innovative and eco-friendly ways to support local wildlife throughout the freezin’ season.
Hole in One for Monarchs!
How are golf courses in Oklahoma chipping in to help save the monarchs? And how can you get your local courses to participate? Whether you are a golfer or not, golf courses are great place for wildlife watching, including monarchs!
One Yard at a Time
Want to get involved with a community resiliency project called Yard by Yard? This program highlights community members who implement practices that promote water, land and ecology resiliency and positively impact their communities “Yard by Yard,” one at a time.
Can You Find the Frosted Elfin?
While the frosted elfin is not as well-known as monarchs, this species may be in decline and researchers need your help. Learn more from Bryan Reynolds and how you can help!
Terrific Trees for Pollinators
There are wonderful Oklahoma native trees that serve an abundance of pollinators! We chatted with Kevin Mink, urban soil health specialist from the Oklahoma County Conservation District and here is what he recommends:
Monarch Math: What’s My Seed Need?
Many of our Okies for Monarchs friends have questions about how much seed is needed for their projects (big and small), so we spent some time this week with collaborative member Sarah McLaughlin of the Johnston Seed Company to find a few answers. McLaughlin is the conservation and native lands specialist at Johnston, a 100+ year old Oklahoma company out of Enid.
What Do You Call a Group of Butterflies?
Is it a flock of butterflies? Or maybe a herd of butterflies? The answer will leave you mesmerized and ready for a group of butterflies to do circles around your head showing off their vibrant colors. Get your imagination ready for some fun!
How to Manage Rangelands for Monarchs
From grazing to prescribed burning, there are a variety of best management practices to consider when managing land to benefit the monarch butterfly.
How to Avoid Complaints from Neighbors, HOA, and the city
When considering planting a pollinator garden at your home, church or school, it is important to be aware of municipal ordinances and also homeowner associations rules and regulations. You might be surprised to learn that planting a garden is the easy part and that getting everyone aware and understanding why you planted one can sometimes be a more difficult task.
Conquering the Challenges of School Gardens
One of the most effective ways to educate students on the importance of pollinators and pollinator habitat is via school gardens. However, these types of projects have two major challenges: 1) funding and 2) continued support & maintenance. Our Okies for Monarchs outreach/education team took these challenges on head first to devise solutions.
Holiday Gift Ideas for Friends of Pollinators
Whether you are looking for the perfect holiday “something” for a gardening family member, wracking you brain for the perfect hostess gift for that friend who always stops and looks at the butterflies, or are wanting to inspire wonder when taking a unique gift to a curious child, Okies for Monarchs has you covered! Check out this winter-wildlife-wants “wish list” guaranteed to bring holiday cheer!
Winterizing Your Pollinator Garden
Many parts of Oklahoma experienced the state’s first freezing temperatures during the second week of November. Hard freezes signal a time for gardeners to think about bedding down their pollinators plants for the winter and be ahead of the game for spring. Whether wild or well-tended over winter, a garden can be a joy for you and a bonus to the biological wonders that reside there.
How You Can Help!
As a biologist whose focus is on Oklahoma’s rare and declining species, I am often asked “What can I do to help ‘Species A’?” Mind you, “Species A” in the conversation may be anything from an endangered bat to a freshwater mussel.
The excellent news is that anyone, even the average “city-dweller”, has the profound ability to both attract and foster pollinator insects in their own backyard with relative ease.