On this episode of bigcitysmalltown with host Bob Rivard, guests are Monika Maeckle and Ashley Bird. Maeckle, a writer and citizen scientist, founded the annual San Antonio Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival in 2015, which Ashley Bird, founder of Blooming with Birdie, takes over this year in advance of the Saturday, Oct. 7 festival at Brackenridge Park, which is free and open to the public.

Maeckle, author of the Texas Butterfly Blog and book coming in 2024 on the monarch migration, led the effort that resulted in San Antonio being named the country’s first Monarch Champion City by the National Wildlife Federation in 2016. She also led the “300 Pollinator Gardens’ initiative in 2018 when San Antonio celebrated its Tricentennial.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:01:10 - Monica's Journey and Passing the Torch

00:04:38 - Festival Venues and Mayoral Participation

00:08:14 - Ashley's Experience in Michoacán

00:11:23 - Environmental Concerns and Danger in Michoacán

00:13:54 - Writing Curriculum and Going Virtual

00:15:36 - Record-Breaking Teacher Applications

00:16:27 - Building upon the Mission

00:18:01 - The Monarch Butterfly Costume Tradition

00:19:55 - Life as a Creative

00:27:29 - Importance of Late Season Nectar Blooming Plants for Monarch Butterflies

00:28:31 - Threats to the Monarch Butterfly Migration

00:31:02 - Initiatives to Support Pollinator Gardens

00:32:14 - Water Conservation and Native Plants

00:35:37 - Details of the Festival and Importance of Pollinator Plants