Nicole Marshall Middleton
Tulsa World Scene Editor
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Tulsa is entering the peak of monarch migration in the coming weeks, and there are several ways to celebrate their beauty.
Monarch butterfly populations have declined in recent decades and are now listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The Gathering Place strives to educate the community about these remarkable pollinators while creating intentional garden spaces that help support and sustain their populations.
At the Gathering Place, visitors can participate in a variety of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences throughout the park.
Guests can wander through vibrant, pollinator-packed gardens, take photos at whimsical installations, create their own butterfly-friendly crafts, and engage in educational displays that bring the journey of monarchs to life.
“The monarch migration is one of nature’s most remarkable natural events, and we are proud to offer visitors an engaging and educational way to experience it at Gathering Place,” said Julio Badin, executive director of the Gathering Place. “As these butterflies pass through Tulsa on their journey south, our gardens and sustainable practices support pollinators in their essential role in nature, helping ensure these species thrive for generations to come.”
Visitors can explore a larger-than-life butterfly garden and learn about the monarch migration, add their own flower to the community waystation, or send postcards to friends and family inside the ONEOK Boathouse. Ramble Sensory Garden features a playful wing selfie installation, perfect for capturing memories, while Sky Garden and the Wetland Gardens showcase pollinator-friendly plants that provide food and shelter for monarchs and other vital pollinators.
The celebration continues with The Great Monarch Quest from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, near the Williams Lodge. Participants can follow a scavenger hunt through the park, enjoy live acoustic music during the monthly Pickin’ in the Park jam, explore offerings from local vendors, and create butterfly-friendly habitats at the PSO Monarch Waystation Workshop. Visitors will also see monarchs up close, learn about their migration, and discover how tagging supports their conservation.
Like the monarchs, the Texas Horned Lizards — affectionately known as “horny toads”— are disappearing.
Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave., will host a one-night-only screening of “Where Did the Horny Toad Go?” from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. This documentary, directed by Stefanie Leland, explores the dramatic decline of the Texas Horned Lizard and what its disappearance reveals about our rapidly changing environment.
Now serving as director of communications and marketing for the Oklahoma Monarch Society, Leland continues her mission to protect the very native landscapes that these species rely on. Her work, both behind the camera and in the field, offers a compelling call to action for all Oklahomans.
“I feel a deep connection to nature and the land, and I believe it’s my responsibility to serve as an ambassador for the creatures that don’t have a voice,” said Leland. “After all, we’re part of the ecosystem too, and finding ways to live more sustainably within it benefits all inhabitants of this miraculous planet.”
Following the screening, audience members are invited to stay for a special Q&A with filmmakers Stefanie and Beau Leland, musical composer Steven Stark, sound recordist Royce Sharp and field herpetologist Aaron Goodwin. Attendees can also stop by the Okies for Monarchs educational booth to learn ways to support native species in their own backyards.
Tickets are $13, with 50% of proceeds benefiting the Oklahoma Monarch Society and its statewide conservation efforts. The Oklahoma Monarch Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2024 to support statewide efforts to create and protect habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators in Oklahoma.
news@tulsaworld.com
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Nicole Marshall Middleton
Tulsa World Scene Editor
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