Mayors Monarch Pledge

Mayor Villalobos was recently recognized for his unwavering support of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge with the establishment of a butterfly garden outside City Hall by the National Wildlife Federation. Rebeca Quinonez-Piñon, Director of the NWF Monarch Recovery Program, commended the City of McAllen’s exemplary leadership in collaboration with Quinta Mazatlan.

Made possible through a $2,000 grant from the National Wildlife Federation, the butterfly garden underscores Mayor Villalobos’ enduring commitment to the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. This initiative, adopted by various U.S. cities and municipalities, focuses on creating habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators while educating residents about conservation efforts.

Mayor Villalobos expressed the significance of monarch butterflies in McAllen, emphasizing the community’s dedication to supporting their migration by cultivating essential plants like milkweed. The garden, a collaboration with Quinta Mazatlan, boasts over 200 native Valley plants, ensuring a pollinator-friendly environment.

Rebecca Quionez-Pinon, National Wildlife Federation Climate Resilient Habitats Director, encourages residents to replicate this effort by creating their own pollinator-friendly gardens at home. She stresses the importance of having plants that bloom throughout the seasons to provide nectar not only for monarchs but also for various native pollinators.