Edmond Couple's Green Thumbs Bringing New Visitors To Community

Oklahoma is right in the middle of the monarch's migration route. Based on their ranching experience, Ed and Jan Wiley are working to make their butterfly garden grow. News 9's Brian Mueller has the story.

Wednesday, October 21st 2020, 6:54 pm



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Ed Wiley is not afraid to speak his mind. Just ask Jan, his wife of 65 years, what he said on their first date.

"Twenty minutes into a blind date, he informed me, I wouldn't have to cook his breakfast after we were married," Jan said.

"That was a facetious remark," Ed responded.

Somehow Ed wasn't toast after that and the two OSU alums went on to run a ranch in the Texas panhandle for 40 years, and in 2017 settled at Touchmark at Coffee Creek.

Ed spoke up again, suggesting they start a butterfly garden.

Oklahoma is right in the middle of the monarch's migration route.

Based on their ranching experience, Ed and Jan knew how to make their garden grow.

They started on it last year, with the mission of not only giving butterflies a haven to feed and lay eggs, but also to involve the Touchmark community.

"Try to get involved, and be a family," Ed said.

It's a passion that is still blooming.

With the help of Touchmark, Ed started a pollinator garden earlier this year.

Ed says he hopes now that residents are enjoying retirement, they have some time to stop and, smell the daisies.

"One thing we can do is enjoy nature that we didn't have time for while we were in our adulthood. So that's the purpose," Ed said.

And the garden is just getting going. The Wileys are already hard at work doubling its size and creating a walking path through it.

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