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.