FORT LARNED — Have you noticed the variety of butterflies in and around the parks, plants, and your backyard this summer?
The public is invited to celebrate all that’s great about butterflies at your national park.
Fort Larned National Historic Site is sponsoring a 9 a.m. dedication and ribbon cutting for the beautiful new butterfly garden Saturday.
“The staff wishes to recognize the hard work and dedication of Larned Middle School teacher Steve Stearns, the Larned Middle School Environmental Class, Larned High School art class, and volunteers who assisted and the businesses that gave needed materials and other resources,” said Ellen Jones, Fort Larned park ranger.
 The fort’s new butterfly garden recently became a Monarch waystation with the intent of contributing to Monarch conservation.
“We will have nets at the dedication event for catching and tagging Monarchs,” Jones said. “There will be a butterfly release.”
 Refreshments and kid’s butterfly activities will be offered too.
Following the dedication, a caravan of citizen scientists (teachers and students) along with butterfly lovers (people who want to have some more fun) will head to Monarch Mania, the butterfly tagging event at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Quivira Refuge is about 45 miles east of Larned. Call 620-486-2893 for more information on Monarch Mania.
Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., information on visiting is on the internet at www.nps.gov/fols, or by calling 620-285-6911. There is no admission fee. Learn more at www.nps.gov.