Oklahoma State students create butterfly pocket prairie for pollinators
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Oklahoma State University students built a 122-foot butterfly in a prairie that will cut down on land maintenance costs and improve biodiversity.
The corner of McElroy and Western Road is now what's called a pocket prairie, which is an area of land, usually under an acre, with native plants that are valuable to pollinators.
A large butterfly can be seen in the prairie and by those flying into Stillwater Regional Airport. The butterfly contains 4,000 square feet of native grasses in all four wing segments.
John Lee, director of Landscape Services, said instead of mowing the entire field, two 6-foot wide strips will be mowed from the parking area around the butterfly for visitors.
We’re already doing something to maintain the area,” Lee said. “We thought, ‘Why not maintain something that creates more benefit and provides a habitat for pollinators?’ The students have been wonderful in helping this garden take shape, and I am tremendously grateful to our senior administration for supporting such a unique project. ”