Butterfly Tales with Riviera Utilities & Foley Public Library

In 2023, Riviera Utilities broke ground on a small beautification project outside the Utilities' Foley office. Today, the initiative has grown into a meaningful partnership, a commitment to environmental stewardship, and an opportunity to support regional research.

The Riviera Utilities Native Pollinator Garden — a registered Monarch Waystation and part of the Alabama Native Milkweed Project — is preparing for another season of fluttering guests. We're partnering with the Foley Public Library to give the community a peek into the garden and its role in state environmental research.

"Butterfly Tales with Riviera Utilities and Foley Public Library," will be held on Wednesday, July 16th, and Saturday, July 19th, at 10 a.m. Families of all ages are encouraged to meet at the children's section at the library before taking the short walk to the garden. Guests will enjoy outdoor fun, crafts, stories, songs, and more before learning about the fascinating life cycle of monarch butterflies and why pollinator-friendly habitats are essential to finishing their journey. Following the presentation, Riviera's vegetation management team and volunteers from the Baldwin County Master Gardeners will be present to answer questions and show guests around the garden.

WHERE IT STARTED

The idea for the garden began in 2022 after learning about utility companies across the nation using right-of-way land for environmental initiatives. After our first planting of tropical milkweed, we quickly saw potential for deeper impact.

Soon after, we connected with Carmen Flaminni, Baldwin County’s Alabama Cooperative Extension Agent, who leads regional efforts for the Alabama Native Milkweed Project. Together with Carmen and the Baldwin County Master Gardeners, our team continues to help introduce more native milkweed species to the community, supporting monarch butterfly habitats and local pollinator populations.

At Riviera Utilities, we believe in growing more than infrastructure - we grow community partnerships and shared responsibility for the natural world. As this project continues to flourish, we remain committed to empowering others to take simple, sustainable actions that make a lasting difference.

For more information on the project, please check out our mini-documentary.