Monarch Butterfly Art Show Opens at Treats Ice Cream in Nevada City

The Monarch Butterfly Art Show, which opened on February 1, 2026, at Treats Ice Cream Shop in Nevada City, brings together the work of 17 local artists to celebrate and support monarch butterfly conservation.

The exhibition features paintings, drawings, collages, and sculptures inspired by monarch butterflies and their caterpillars. All proceeds from artwork sales will be directed toward purchasing native milkweed, which will be distributed through the Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT), Mike the Bee Guy, and other community projects focused on planting milkweed throughout western Nevada County.

"Treats has always been about community, creativity, and caring for the place we live," said Peggy Wright, artist, organizer of the show, and co-owner of Treats Ice Cream. "This art show lets us celebrate the beauty of monarchs while directly supporting the simple, powerful act of planting milkweed to help them survive."

The exhibition was juried by LeeAnn Brook, who selected Katie Carter, Mara Sprier, Lauren Fogiel, and Bob Branstrom to receive Juror's Awards.

Milkweed is critical to monarch survival—it is the only plant where monarchs lay their eggs and the primary food source for monarch caterpillars. BYLT's Monarch Meadow Project is part of the Planting the Seed initiative, a community-based effort to transform Nevada County into a monarch flyway.

The show will remain on display at Treats Ice Cream, 210 Main Street, Nevada City, for the entire month of February. The public is invited to view and purchase these unique monarch butterfly art pieces.

Sources:

• The Union: https://www.theunion.com/news/monarch-butterfly-art-show-takes-flight-at-treats-ice-cream/article_2cbc2dca-195a-4f55-8d43-349514b15b80.html
• Bear Yuba Land Trust Monarch Meadow Project: https://www.bylt.org/monarch-meadow-project/