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Norman chosen for Oklahoma Monarch Society habitat, education and mural project at City Hall
Summary
The Oklahoma Monarch Society and the Kirkpatrick Foundation will fund pollinator habitat, educational programming and a Norman-specific mural at City Hall and a north-side site; planting is slated for April with community volunteer events and a native-plant workshop in early April.
The Norman City Council heard a presentation on Feb. 17 about a Kirkpatrick Foundation–funded partnership between the city and the Oklahoma Monarch Society to install pollinator habitat, public education programming and an artist-designed mural at City Hall.
Michelle, the presenter, told council that Norman and Edmond were the only two Oklahoma cities selected for the program and described the project’s components: demonstration pollinator gardens at the front and north side of the development center, educational signage, community programming with Oklahoma Monarch Society, and a mural to be painted by Oklahoma artist Rick Sennett. She said the planting plan includes about 500 plants across 34 native species, with four milkweed species (the only plant monarch caterpillars eat) represented and 50 plants spread among those milkweeds.
The project timeline and community engagement were central to the presentation. Michelle said the planning phase is nearly complete, with a native-plant workshop scheduled April 4 and planting on April 11. She invited OU students and community volunteers to help at large planting events and noted the site is intended as a highly visible demonstration of pollinator-friendly landscaping. She also described proposed programming such as seed giveaways and monarch tagging/citizen-science activities.
Council members asked about long-term maintenance and plant selection. Michelle and the presenter-design lead explained the gardens will use native, drought-tolerant species intended to reduce irrigation and maintenance after a two-year establishment period; she said no fertilizers or chemical pesticides will be used and that routine tidying would be required but not an increased water budget. The presenters confirmed educational signage will explain the gardens’ purpose and seasonal benefits for pollinators.
The presentation closed with an invitation for public participation in workshops and volunteer planting events. Council thanked the presenters and moved to the next agenda item.
