The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Working to save the monarch butterfly

West Cook Wild Ones Native Plant Sale Discount

The Village is partnering with Wild Ones of West Cook to subsidize the purchase of monarch garden and rain garden kits for Oak Park residents.

Kits can be ordered online through the West Cook Native Plant Sale.

Garden kits are $11.25 for residents, which is a 75% discount from the regular kit price of $45. Enter the discount code MONARCHS at the time of purchase.

The initiative is tied to the Village’s participation in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, which includes a commitment to create habitat for monarch butterflies in the community. The Climate Ready Oak Park plan also calls for the transition of 30% of Oak Park’s land to native species and green infrastructure. 

The plant discount for Oak Park residents applies towards the purchase of one monarch kit or one rain garden kit. Orders can be picked up June 6 to 8 at Miller Meadow, 2199 S. 1st Ave. in Maywood.

Monarch garden kits contain three plants each of butterfly milkweed, aromatic asters, pale purple coneflower, foxglove beardtongue, and early goldenrod. Plants like full to part sun, medium to dry soil, they are 2-3 feet in height at maturity, and they will cover an area of 10-15 square feet.

Rain garden kits contain three plants each of rose milkweed, blue flag iris, cardinal flower, and Riddell’s goldenrod. These plants like full sun and wet to medium-wet soil, they are 2-4 feet in height at maturity, and they will cover an area of 10-15 square feet.

 

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The Village of Oak Park is doing its part to help save the monarch butterfly, an iconic North American species whose populations have declined dramatically in recent years.

Village officials have joined hundreds of communities across the country in a pledge to create a healthy habitat that will aid monarch butterflies on their annual migration across the continent.

In addition to issuing a proclamation to raise awareness of the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat, the Village plants native milkweed and nectar plants on public properties when appropriate across the community, including traffic diverters, cul-de-sacs, medians and planters.

The Village's Public Works Center is also home to a certified Monarch butterfly waystation.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, monarch butterflies numbered around 1 billion in 1996. Today, their numbers have declined significantly as a result of numerous threats, particularly the loss of habitat due to cropland conversion, urban development, and agricultural practices.

Oak Park residents can make a difference by planting native milkweed and nectar plants on their property to provide habitat for pollinators like the monarch butterfly. Milkweed can spread aggressively, so residents are encouraged to plant with care.

Tips on how to create a monarch garden are available at the following links:

For more information about the Village’s Monarch Pledge, call 708.358.5770 or email sustainability@oak-park.us.