Phoenix to Celebrate Planting for Monarchs Month with Butterfly Release

Phoenix to Celebrate Planting for Monarchs Month with Release of 60 Painted Lady Butterflies

The City of Phoenix is set to host a butterfly release event that will feature 60 Painted Lady butterflies in celebration of Planting for Monarchs Month. This event, organized by the City’s Office of Environmental Programs and Parks and Recreation Department, is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, located at 2439 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

This butterfly release is in partnership with Butterfly Wonderland of Scottsdale, recognized as the largest indoor butterfly conservatory in America. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear remarks from several officials, including representatives from the office of Mayor Kate Gallego and leadership from the Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to the butterfly release, the event will showcase examples of monarch-friendly plants that are essential for supporting butterfly migration patterns.

The City aims to provide free resources to the public, including Sonoran Desert wildflower seeds, to encourage community involvement in protecting these vital pollinators. Phoenix is situated along the migration path of the Western Monarch Butterfly to Mexico, making this initiative particularly significant.

The Importance of Pollinators

Efforts made to assist Monarch butterflies also benefit various other butterfly species. Pollinators play a vital role in the ecosystem, contributing to the growth of crops and flowers that provide food sources for both wildlife and humans. In 2021, Mayor Kate Gallego signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, a commitment to creating habitats for butterflies and increasing public education about them.

Since then, Phoenix has taken measurable steps to support these commitments. The city has designated the garden between the Phoenix Police Department headquarters and crime lab as a “waystation” for monarchs since September 2024. Currently, Phoenix boasts 74 registered monarch waystations around gardens and parks planted with milkweed and other pollinator-friendly flowers.

Project History and Future Commitment

The butterfly garden project at the police headquarters was initiated by a forensic scientist, Erin Hickson, after her attendance at a water conservation class. The project took two years to secure federal grants and approvals before the actual planting took place. Volunteers contributed to the effort by planting 400 plants, including desert milkweed and other flowering species at the crime lab garden, which was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, utilizing plants provided by the Desert Botanical Garden. In addition, Phoenix is committed to maintaining the garden as a pollinator habitat for a minimum of 10 years.

Challenges faced by the garden include extreme summer heat, which affects the health of the plants within it. The population of western monarchs has significantly declined, experiencing a 95% drop since the 1980s. These butterflies now face a 99% chance of extinction by the year 2080 due to habitat destruction, the use of insecticides, and the impacts of climate change. As a proactive measure, the Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the monarch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Monarchs and Arizona’s Ecological Role

Monarch butterflies can be observed in Arizona throughout the year, with their presence varying according to the season. Arizona serves as a migration gateway for both western and eastern populations of monarchs. Efforts in Phoenix to promote native pollinator-supporting plants have led to the planting of over 5,000 such plants across 4.7 acres. The Arizona Monarch Collaborative is actively organizing conservation efforts that involve more than 80 organizations across the state.

In conclusion, the butterfly release event in Phoenix marks an important step in the city’s ongoing efforts to sustain and promote butterfly populations and educate the community about the critical roles these pollinators play in our environment. Residents are encouraged to contribute by planting native pollinator plants on their properties to further support butterflying efforts.