Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Strap on your butterfly wings and antennas and join us for a weekend of fun and learning as we celebrate the monarch butterfly. See the “Follow the Monarch” traveling art exhibit by Okies for Monarchs, purchase pollinator-friendly plants and learn more about the amazing migration of monarch butterflies. Members of Okies for Monarchs will be giving a talk on Sunday at 11 a.m. on monarch migration and how you can help save monarchs from further decline. Kids can try out the Monarch Migration Obstacle Course, see live monarch rearing kits and more.
A Fairy Garden contest will round out the weekend’s activities. The public is invited to bring their individual fairy gardens for display and voting on Saturday and Sunday.
Ongoing, Saturday and Sunday:
“Follow the Monarch” Exhibit by Okies for Monarchs. As seen around Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma Museum of Science, “Follow the Monarchs” is a traveling art display featuring thousands of paper butterflies mimicking the monarch migration. It will be on display in the Garden’s Visitor Center during September and October.
Fairy Garden Contest: Drop off your Fairy Garden on Sept. 7 or 8: The public is invited to bring their individual fairy gardens on Saturday and Sunday for display and voting in the Driskill Children’s Discovery Garden. Winners will be announced on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Plant Sale: Plants will be available for sale all weekend to those who want to take home plants to support the monarchs in their own yard. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), Yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Monarch Education Station in the Visitor Center: Live monarch rearing kits will be on display.
Story Walk in the Driskill Children’s Discovery Garden will feature the lifecycle of a butterfly.
Starting 10:30 a.m. each day: Monarch Migration Obstacle Course: An obstacle course will be set up on the main lawn for children (and adults) to experience elements of the life of the monarch.
Food: Rainbow Bowls Food Truck will be on hand both days from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.. Our Garden of Eatin’ stand will be selling wine, white and red Sangria, Cucumber Spritzer, Blueberry Spritzer, Spiked Pumpkin Iced Coffee, Migrating Coconuts Beer, Pineapple, Apple and Mint Juice from Inheritance Juicery, Assorted soda and juice, Ice Cream, Chips
Other Scheduled Activities:
Saturday, September 7
10:30 a.m.: Storytime on Main Lawn: Jennifer Riem will be reading her book “Lost on the Alpine Tundra-The Adventures of Twilla & Rye” about the adventures of tree sprites visiting Rocky Mountain National Forest. Free face painting during storytime!
11:00 a.m.: Waystation Dedication Ceremony in the Driskill Children’s Discovery Garden
Join Garden staff for a short dedication ceremony for the Garden’s registered waystation sign “Botanic Bodega” that will be installed in the Driskill Children’s Discovery Garden.
Sunday, Sept. 8
In celebration of Grandparents Day, all grandparents will get a monarch pin in the Visitor Center on Sunday.
11:00 a.m.: Main Lawn: “Meet the Monarchs” Talk by members of Okies for Monarchs/Oklahoma Monarch Society
Learn all about the amazing monarch butterflies and their unique long-distance migration. You will learn how milkweed host plants and Oklahoma play an important role in their survival, as well as how you can help save the monarchs from further decline. Bring your chairs/blankets for this talk on the lawn behind our Visitor Center.
12:30 p.m.: Fairy Garden Contest Winners announced, and ribbons given out in Driskill Children’s Discovery Garden.
All activities are included with regular admission. FREE for Garden members.
Special thanks to
