Pollinator Palooza - Monarch Butterfly Release

Event Details:
Sunday, July 12th
Alsip Home & Nursery – Frankfort, IL & St. John, IN

Whether you’re a pollinator pro or planting your first butterfly garden, Pollinator Palooza is a can’t-miss event full of inspiration, education, and natural wonder.

Full Schedule:
11:00 AM – Native Pollinator Gardening Talk by Our ExpertsFind out the best plants to use in the landscape for creating a pollinator paradise. Join Dolly Foster in St. John and Ashley Buzan in Frankfort.

12:00 PM – Scavenger Hunt for Groups and Families | No Registration Required
Leading up to the release, visitors can participate in our scavenger hunt for a chance to release a Monarch! Buzz around Alsip checking off your “Pollinator Passport” where in which the first 50 groups to complete will receive a “Butterfly Boarding Pass” granting the opportunity to help the Monarchs take flight!

1:00 PM – Monarch Butterfly ReleaseEach store plans to release 100 monarch butterflies at 12:00 PM, reared onsite from caterpillars nurtured with care by the Alsip team.

Additional Information
A Monarch Butterfly Release and Family-Friendly Celebration of Native Plants and Pollinator Gardens

Frankfort, IL & St. John, IN — Alsip Home & Nursery is thrilled to invite the community to Pollinator Palooza, a celebration of all things pollinators, happening Sunday, July 12th at both retail locations in Frankfort, IL and St. John, IN.

The magic begins months before the event with the cultivation of monarch-friendly milkweed, grown locally at Alsip’s Kingsbury Acres growing facility. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed, and while they can utilize many species, they show a particular preference for Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). This, along with Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), supports monarchs through all five larval instar stages before forming a chrysalis and completing their metamorphosis.

Milkweed isn’t just vital to monarchs—it’s a powerhouse for local ecosystems. Swamp milkweed thrives in moist soils and attracts a wide range of beneficial insects with its fragrant pink blooms, while butterfly weed offers fiery orange flowers and drought tolerance.

To complement the butterfly release, Alsip Home & Nursery is also featuring a diverse lineup of native perennials perfect for building your own pollinator-friendly garden.
“Native plants are essential for pollinators,” says the Alsip Green Team. “They’ve evolved to support the butterflies, bees, and birds that our gardens - and our food systems - depend on.”