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Organizers report 200-plus attendees at FM Flutter Fest; ask city about native-planting plans
Summary
Organizers of the first annual FM Flutter Fest thanked the city for support, reported more than 200 attendees and native-plant donations, and asked whether the city plans to convert turf to native plantings on some public land.
Martha Wheeler, a Moorhead resident and event organizer, told the council on July 14 that the city-supported first annual FM Flutter Fest at Gooseberry Mound Park had more than 200 attendees and positive feedback. She thanked the city for waiving a small shelter fee and credited local organizations and volunteers for donating native plants and labor.
Wheeler said University of Minnesota Extension volunteers donated native plants and will provide educational signage, U-Farm Extension, 4-H, FM Food Partners, Clay Soil and Water Conservation District and The Nature Conservancy participated and Paul Feigner provided tools, compost and mulch. She said volunteers planted the full designated garden area and that the event and plantings will help pollinators and wildlife and provide information for residents who want to add native habitat to private property.
Wheeler asked whether the city has plans to transition some city-owned turf areas to native plantings or prairies, citing steep, hard-to-maintain turf at an underpass near Moorhead High School as an example. Mayor Shelley Carlson asked public works staff to follow up and have the public works director get back to Wheeler with information; staff confirmed the city is exploring such options as part of its GreenStep Cities work.
Wheeler said the organizers plan a second FM Flutter Fest during pollinator week 2026 and hope to expand citizen involvement.
