From mayapples in a woodland glade in Douglas
County to Indian blanket along the roadsides of Meade County, Kansas offers
an endless list of worthy destinations for botanizing throughout the growing
season. The Natural Kansas website lists over 100 of these
destinations. If you are looking for new places to go in 2010, start
here to make your plans!
Enjoy the beauty of the fall prairie wildflowers in this
video from Mike Blair of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks!
For more videos from this series, see the
KDWP website.
Winter is a good time to get out the field guides
and page through them to refamiliarize yourself with the wide variety of
flora available in Kansas. Re-reading the text entries will often
yield surprising flashes of insight based on the experiences you had since
you last read them.
Of course, one can never have enough field guides!
Don't limit your bookshelf to the "Kansas-only" books. Often you will
find species from Kansas in the field guides from neighboring states and
other species that are not be listed in Kansas books that are also found
here. Every author brings a
different suite of experiences to what they write, and different books may
have different features of a species illustrated as well, so these too can
provide you with valuable knowledge. You can find a list of books on
Kansas wildflowers and other natural history topics here.
Want a real identification challenge? Try
finding your favorite species in winter! See if you can use the seed
pods and vegetative structures to recognize a species. This is a great
way to broaden your familiarity with a plant. There was a 1984 book
useful for this purpose called "Pods: Wildflowers and Weeds in Their Final
Beauty" written by Jane Emberton that is currently out of print (and really
deserves a second edition), but you may be able to locate a used copy online
or through your local bookstore.
Governor Mark Parkinson proclaimed June 2010 as Kansas Native Plant
Appreciation Month! The Governor's proclamation urged all citizens to join
in the observance of Kansas Native Plant Appreciation Month by enjoying,
appreciating, and celebrating our floral diversity and taking advantage of
the opportunities to learn more about our native plants, their habitats,
and how to protect them.
Kansas Native Plant Society celebrates native plants
all year long with many different free events!
Everyone is welcome to enjoy these opportunities to discover
our state's natural heritage. Explore nature, learn about native plants,
and socialize with like-minded people at these outings.
July28: Discover
the prairies of South Central Kansas with prairie enthusiast, Brad Guhr,
Dyck Arboretum Education Coordinator. Join us in gathering seed, observing
birds and insects, and identifying prairie plants on high quality prairie
remnants. Leave the Dyck Arboretum at 4pm and return by twilight. All ages
are welcome. Fee: $5, children under 13 are free. Call 620-327-8127 to
reserve a spot. Directions can be given to late-comers. Bring a sandwich
and enjoy the sun setting over the prairie. Reserve a spot by calling
(620) 327-8127
August 1-5: The North American Prairie Conference will be in
Cedar Falls, IA. The University of Northern Iowa will host the 22nd
Biennial NAPC. This year's conference is themed Restoring a National
Treasure. Contact:Ryan Welch rwelch@uni.edu
or (319) 273-7957, or see the website: http://www.northamericanprairieconference.org
August 7, 10am-12pm: Summer Wildflower Walk
at Prairie State Park, north of Joplin, MO. Visit Missouri’s largest
remaining tallgrass prairie, at nearly 4,000 acres. Hike on the prairie
with a naturalist to discover some of the summer bloomers of the season.
Find out what makes a prairie so beautiful in the summer and what some of
the plants were once used for. This hike will be about a mile or less.
Please bring comfortable hiking shoes and be prepared for the weather.
Meet at the visitor center, 10am. This event is sponsored by the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources. Contact: PSP (417) 843-6711
August 11: Discover the prairies of South Central Kansas with
prairie enthusiast, Brad Guhr, Dyck Arboretum Education Coordinator. Join
us in gathering seed, observing birds and insects, and identifying prairie
plants on high quality prairie remnants. Leave the Dyck Arboretum at 4pm
and return by twilight. All ages are welcome. Fee: $5, children under 13
are free. Call 620-327-8127 to reserve a spot. Directions can be given to
late-comers. Bring a sandwich and enjoy the sun setting over the prairie.
Reserve a spot by calling (620) 327-8127
August 21 - Prairie Maintenance at
Snyder Prairie in Jackson County, near Mayetta, KS. Volunteers are needed
for prairie maintenance and preservation projects. The Grassland Heritage
Foundation Groundhogs meet on the third Saturday of every month except
December. Wear appropriate clothing. No special skills or tools needed. Contact: Frank Norman
fjnorman@sunflower.com or (785) 691-9748
August 25: Discover the prairies of South Central Kansas with
prairie enthusiast, Brad Guhr, Dyck Arboretum Education Coordinator. Join
us in gathering seed, observing birds and insects, and identifying prairie
plants on high quality prairie remnants. Leave the Dyck Arboretum at 4pm
and return by twilight. All ages are welcome. Fee: $5, children under 13
are free. Call 620-327-8127 to reserve a spot. Directions can be given to
late-comers. Bring a sandwich and enjoy the sun setting over the prairie.
Reserve a spot by calling (620) 327-8127
August
28:
Explore Native Tallgrass Prairie at Tuttle Creek Lake, 1:30-3pm. Kansas
Native Plant Society volunteers will lead the walk near the Visitor
Center at the lake. Rain date is August 29. Pre-registration is required. Contact: Park Ranger Paul Weidhaas
Paul.K.Weidhaas@usace.army.mil
or (785) 539-8511
September 4: Fall Wildflower Tour at
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, McPherson County, KS. Board the tram for a
tour of the prairie with wildflowers and buffalo, 10am. There is also a
self guided walking tour with flowers flagged. The Refuge is located 6
miles north of Canton, KS. (620)-628-4455
September 9-12: FloraKansas: Great Plains Plant Bazaar at Dyck
Arboretum of the Plains, Hesston, KS. This plant sale features
hard-to-find native perennials plus classes and tours. Kansas Native Plant
Society co-sponsors Dyck Arboretum events. Ask about member's only sale
dates; 10% members discount on all days. Admission charge is by donation.
Contact:arboretum@Hesston.edu
or (620) 327-8127
September 11:
Wilson County Wildflower Tour in southeast Kansas. Join us as we enjoy the
blooming wildflowers of the fall! Come face to face with nature's wonders
in southeast Kansas. Tucked into the beautiful Osage Cuestas (rolling
hills), the landscape is sculpted in rich woodlands and winding rivers.
The day starts off at 8:30am with coffee and home baked pastries at
Neodesha High School. On the tour knowledgeable group leaders will assist
in plant id, historical interpretations, etc. Kansas Native Plant
Society co-sponsors this event. A picnic lunch with cool refreshments
will be served. Cost is $10 which includes breakfast, lunch, lanyard &
bottled water and transportation to the site. Pre-registration required by
Sept 9th. Contact: Gina Thompson
gina.thompson@ks.nacdnet.net
or (620) 378-2866
September
11-12:
5th Annual Wildflower Weekend at the Tallgrass
Prairie National Preserve in Chase County, KS. Bring the family; the
weekend will be educational and enjoyable for all ages, 10am-4pm. Members
of the Kansas Native Plant Society will be on hand to lead
wildflower hikes. Contact:tapr_interpretation@nps.gov
or (620) 2738494
September 17-19:Kansas Native Plant Society’s 32nd Annual Wildflower Weekend will
be in Great Bend, KS. We will visit wetlands and prairies in and around
Barton County. Come enjoy native plants with us in the Arkansas River
Lowlands of south central Kansas! The weekend is filled with outings,
programs, a silent auction, photo contest, dinner, and socializing. Contact:
email@KSNPS.org or (785) 864-3453
September 18
- Prairie Maintenance at Snyder Prairie in Jackson County, near Mayetta,
KS. Volunteers are needed for prairie maintenance and preservation
projects. The Grassland Heritage Foundation Groundhogs meet on the third
Saturday of every month except December. Wear appropriate clothing. No
special skills or tools needed. Contact: Frank Norman
fjnorman@sunflower.com or (785) 691-9748
September 24-26:
The Land Institute's 29th Annual Prairie Festival is in Salina, KS. This
year’s festival features writer Wendell Berry among the speakers! Also
enjoy art, music, dancing, guided prairie walks, bird watching, children's
activities, and food. www.landinstitute.org
or (785) 823-5376
September 25:
Konza Prairie Biennial Visitors' Day, 8am-5pm. Featuring guided hikes, hay
wagon rides, homestead tours, van tours, exhibits, video, and youth
activities, near Manhattan, KS. Presented by K-State Division of Biology,
The Nature Conservancy and Friends of Konza Prairie. From I-70, take exit
307 and go northeast on McDowell Creek Road for 4.2 miles to the entrance.
http://keep.konza.ksu.edu/visit/events.htm or
(785) 587-0441
September 25: The American Indians and
Bison Program at the Tallgrass Prairie National
Preserve in Chase County, KS. Please join us for this informative
event on the Native American tribes of the tallgrass prairie and the role
bison played on the tallgrass prairie. Contact:tapr_interpretation@nps.gov
or (620) 2738494
September 25:
Prairie Jubilee at Prairie State Park near Lamar, Missouri. Visit
Missouri’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie, at nearly 4,000 acres.
Learn about life on the prairie during a day filled with activities and
entertainment. Guided wagon rides to view the bison herd will be
available, prairie restoration activities, and wildflower gardening plants
will be for sale, with advice offered on care. Storytelling and
traditional music will fill the air. A bison burger lunch will be
available for a small fee. This fun event for young and old is sponsored
by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Contact:prairie.state.park@dnr.mo.gov
or (417) 843-6711 or (800) 334-6946
October 16 -
Prairie Maintenance at Snyder Prairie in Jackson County, near Mayetta, KS.
Volunteers are needed for prairie maintenance and preservation projects.
The Grassland Heritage Foundation Groundhogs meet on the third Saturday of
every month except December. Wear appropriate clothing. No special skills
or tools needed. Contact: Frank Norman
fjnorman@sunflower.com or (785) 691-9748
October 16: Prairie Harvest Festival and
Barn Dance at the Tallgrass Prairie National
Preserve in Chase County, KS. Come out for the Prairie Harvest
Festival and watch historic demonstrations or take a hayrack ride through
the prairie. Contact:tapr_interpretation@nps.gov
or (620) 2738494
November 6:
To Battle!!! Kansas City WildLands Annual Honeysuckle Battle, 9am-noon.
Join us for our biggest restoration event of the year as we battle the dread shrub honeysuckle that threatens Kansas City's beautiful wild places
on several sites at once. This is a GREAT group workday!
To register or for more information contact Linda Lehrbaum
linda@bridgingthegap.org
or (816) 561-1061, ext. 116.
For a look online at what Kansas has to offer throughout the year, visit these web sites:
If you are not already a member, consider joining the Kansas
Native Plant
Society. The mission of the Kansas Native Plant Society is
to encourage awareness and appreciation of the native plants of Kansas in
their habitats and in our landscapes by promoting education, stewardship,
and scientific knowledge.
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form.
Questions or comments about Natural Kansas may be directed to Jim Mason
