This year we are hosting a Mobile Migration activity, symbolically representing the Tri-country migration of Monarchs from their northern breeding grounds up along the Canadian/US border south through the US west of the Rockies to their over-wintering grounds in the Oyamel fir forests of Central Mexico, a nearly 3000 mile journey! We have chosen six gardens ranging from Oxley Nature Center as our northern-most point, down to the Audubon Society’s Flycatcher Trail in Jenks. In between are some nifty locations of which many of you may be unaware. Feel free to hop on the migration path at any Letter as you see fit. Signage at each location will tell you something about various aspects of how the migration coincides with stages of a Monarch’s life cycle and the generational progression of their journey! Enjoy and have fun!
A. Oxley Nature Center-tucked away in a corner of Mohawk Park, is the hidden jewel of the Tulsa Parks Department. Opened in 1980, it consists of 800 acres of mixed biomes with over 9 miles of trails. Your quest here is to check out the Monarch Way Station next to the entrance to the Nature Center, and the small garden across the parking lot in Fawn Grove. The more adventurous amongst you may opt for a short hike out into the prairie and around the pond.
B. Creek Nation Council Oak Tree Park–Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, this landmark represents the founding of the city of Tulsa by the Creek Nation after their removal from Alabama to Indian Territory via the Trail of Tears in 1836. Find Tropical Milkweed, Blue Mistflower among other plants, and note the tall Pawpaw trees near the magnificent Burr Oak and the towering abstract sculpture, Morning Prayer representing the ceremonial fires of the Mvskoke People. Pawpaws are the host plant for Zebra Swallowtail butterflies. Across the street is Stickball Park, recognizing the traditional game of Stickball with a nice bronze sculpture.
C. The Gathering Place-this amazing 66 acre park won accolades from Time Magazine, USA Today and National Geographic shortly after opening in 2018. It is truly a visual delight for the whole family, with fantastical playground equipment and thousands of carefully tended native plants and ornamental trees to delight the spirit. Our focus here is the Wetlands Gardens area and the walking path along the north side of the lake where there are extensive plantings of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a particularly successful species for this region.
D. Crow Creek Meadow-a tiny, easy-to-overlook locale near Brookside, CCM currently has lots of Maximilian Sunflower and Partridge Pea, the host plant for Cloudless Sulphurs in buttery yellow bloom. Swing by throughout the year to see what is in season!
E. Jewish Federation of Tulsa Food Bank Garden-this Star of David-shaped garden of 6,500 square feet has over 25 varieties of vegetables, and that isn’t counting the many pollinator species to increase the biodiversity of the site. Produce grown here is donated to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma to provide fresh vegetables to the underserved in its hope to help “repair the world.”
F. Flycatcher Trail-A cooperative effort by the Tulsa Audubon Society and Jenks Public Schools, this gorgeous outdoor classroom and demonstration garden hosts a plethora of native plant species and the many pollinators drawn to these host and nectar sources. QR codes help explain the seven different features to be found in this carefully designed garden.
