The Monarch Butterfly Festival is part of Bemidji’s commitment through the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge to create an environment that allows monarchs to thrive and reproduce in our community.

The population of this unique, vibrant butterfly has declined by more than 90 percent in the past two decades. Bemidji has taken several steps to help support the monarch including planting and promoting native plant gardens, hosting pollinator seed/plant sales, and providing educational opportunities. For more information on these initiatives go to: https://www.spearheadmhas.org/birds-and-bees.html

The following five actions have been officially declared through the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge program

1. Plant a monarch-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent location.
2. Launch a program to plant native milkweeds and nectar plants in school gardens by engaging students, teachers and the community.
3. Launch a public communication effort to encourage citizens to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods.
4. Create a monarch neighborhood challenge to engage neighborhoods and homeowners’ associations within the city to create habitat for the monarch butterfly.
5. Host or support a native plant sale or milkweed seed giveaway.

Interested in a virtual tour of the Demonstration -  Native/Pollinator Gardens in our Community?  Click here..