Owners of native prairie hay meadows are stewards of some of the most ecologically important lands in Kansas, according to scientists at the Kansas Biological Survey at the University of Kansas. Yet hay meadows are often unrecognized and unappreciated -- which puts them at risk of being inadvertently harmed or even destroyed.
In an effort to shine more light on the importance of hay meadows, the KBS has produced a booklet, Native Prairie Hay Meadows: A Landowner's Management Guide. The guide explores hay meadow ecology; the economic and cultural importance of hay meadows; management advice for maintaining and restoring hay meadows; and land conservation options for interested landowners. The 32-page booklet features full color photography of prairie landscapes. (Click for lower resolution (2MB) - best for viewing on screen, or high resolution (10.5 MB) - best for printing.)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
A State Grass for Kansas
Learn more about the initiative to make little bluestem the official state grass of Kansas.
http://www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org/littleblue/stategrass.htm
http://www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org/littleblue/stategrass.htm
Monday, January 12, 2009
New Gallery of Wildflowers and other Plants
More images have been added to our photo gallery. KNPS members contributed all the photos. Take a look at some of the native plants that Kansas has to offer.
http://www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org/gallery.php
http://www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org/gallery.php
Annual Wildflower Weekend Photo Gallery
If you weren't able to make it to the AWW in Hays, you missed out. We toured private land north of Hays, Cedar Bluff Reservoir and Wilson Reservoir. See pictures of KNPS members exploring these locations.
http://www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org/gallery_AWW2008.php
http://www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org/gallery_AWW2008.php
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Native Plant Weekend at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
On September 13 and 14, members of the Kansas Native Plant Society will partner with Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve to present a wide variety of programs, hikes, and activities showcasing the fall plants and wildflowers of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. On Saturday, Mike Haddock, editor of Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses, will lead a presentation on photographing tallgrass prairie wildflowers and grasses at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. followed by tallgrass prairie ecology and native plant identification hikes at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tallgrass prairie ecology and native plant identification hikes are scheduled hourly from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with medicinal and edible plant hikes scheduled at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Bottomland prairie restoration hikes and talks are scheduled from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. along the Bottomland Trail. Visitors also have the opportunity to learn how to make paper using native plants and natural dyes from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the historic limestone barn, with special presentations at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
On Sunday, September 14th the fun continues with bottomland prairie restoration hikes and talks from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. along the Bottomland Trail. Native plant dyeing and spinning demonstrations will be held in the historic limestone barn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hour-long tallgrass prairie ecology and native plant identification hikes will be presented at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. a wildflower identification presentation will be given by Jeff Hansen, former president of the Kansas Native Plant Society. Visitors can learn more about the Kansas Native Plant Society by visiting the information booth in the historic limestone barn available both days or go to www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org. EXPERI E N CE YOUR AMERICA The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
Kids learn the importance of and skills necessary to "Leave No Trace" as they complete the Leave No Trace Scavenger Hunt using a pencil and piece of paper. Upon completion, kids earn a special Leave No Trace patch. Program is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days of the special event.
A 6.4-mile bus tour of the preserve’s more remote backcountry is available at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. daily through October 26, 2008. The cost is $5.00 per adult and $3.00 for ages 5 – 18 years. There is no charge for children age 4 and under. Advance reservations for the bus tours are recommended, but arrangements can be made on the day of the visit if space is available. For more information, please call the park rangers’ offices at (620) 273-8494.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a public/private partnership with the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Kansas Park Trust. Located two miles north of Strong City on Kansas State Highway 177 (the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway), the preserve’s historic ranch headquarters is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. For more information or to make group reservations, visit the preserve’s website at www.nps.gov/tapr, e-mail tapr_interpretation@nps.gov, or call the preserve at (620) 273-8494.
On Sunday, September 14th the fun continues with bottomland prairie restoration hikes and talks from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. along the Bottomland Trail. Native plant dyeing and spinning demonstrations will be held in the historic limestone barn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hour-long tallgrass prairie ecology and native plant identification hikes will be presented at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. a wildflower identification presentation will be given by Jeff Hansen, former president of the Kansas Native Plant Society. Visitors can learn more about the Kansas Native Plant Society by visiting the information booth in the historic limestone barn available both days or go to www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org. EXPERI E N CE YOUR AMERICA The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
Kids learn the importance of and skills necessary to "Leave No Trace" as they complete the Leave No Trace Scavenger Hunt using a pencil and piece of paper. Upon completion, kids earn a special Leave No Trace patch. Program is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days of the special event.
A 6.4-mile bus tour of the preserve’s more remote backcountry is available at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. daily through October 26, 2008. The cost is $5.00 per adult and $3.00 for ages 5 – 18 years. There is no charge for children age 4 and under. Advance reservations for the bus tours are recommended, but arrangements can be made on the day of the visit if space is available. For more information, please call the park rangers’ offices at (620) 273-8494.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a public/private partnership with the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Kansas Park Trust. Located two miles north of Strong City on Kansas State Highway 177 (the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway), the preserve’s historic ranch headquarters is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. For more information or to make group reservations, visit the preserve’s website at www.nps.gov/tapr, e-mail tapr_interpretation@nps.gov, or call the preserve at (620) 273-8494.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
KNPS Annual Wildflower Weekend
October 3rd, 4th, and 5th in Hays, KS
The theme this year is “Ethnobotany – cultural uses of native plants”. Highlights of the weekend include our silent auction and photo contest, as well as the following.
Presentation: “Native medicinal plants of the prairie”
Presentation: “Dyeing wool with native plants”
Tour Site 1 Private Ranch north of Hays: Site of Echinacea study
Tour Site 2 Cedar Bluff Reservoir - Wildlife Area - Bluffs
Tour Site 3 Wilson Reservoir – Lucas Park - Rocktown Natural Area
The theme this year is “Ethnobotany – cultural uses of native plants”. Highlights of the weekend include our silent auction and photo contest, as well as the following.
Presentation: “Native medicinal plants of the prairie”
Presentation: “Dyeing wool with native plants”
Tour Site 1 Private Ranch north of Hays: Site of Echinacea study
Tour Site 2 Cedar Bluff Reservoir - Wildlife Area - Bluffs
Tour Site 3 Wilson Reservoir – Lucas Park - Rocktown Natural Area
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Third Biennial Coblentz Prairie Foray
Sunday, Jun 1st, 2008
County: Douglas
1pm. This glaciated tallgrass prairie offers diverse native plants as well as uncommon birds like Henslow's Sparrow, notable insects like Golden Byssus skippers, and interesting rocks like Sioux Quartzite. This may be the furthest south the glaciers advanced in Kansas, and large pink and red Sioux Quartzite boulders, glacial erratics, can be found in several areas. Among the 270 recorded plant species, we hope to see the federally protected Mead's milkweed, Prairie phlox, Starry Catchfly, Topeka Purple-coneflower, and Tall Cinquefoil! Other plants of interest include the Adder's Tongue Fern --one of the few prairie ferns and Cluster fescue (Festuca paradoxa) --a fescue rarely found in Kansas. Kansas Native Plant Society and Grassland Heritage Foundation co-sponsor this event. Co-leaders: Jeff Hansen, KNPS President and GHF Board Member and Shirley Braunlich, KNPS Board Member. Coblentz Prairie is 40-minutes west of Lawrence, KS in west-central Douglas County at the intersection of E 1 Road and North 1150th Road; it is part of the Clinton Wildlife area. Meet a half-mile east of the intersection on the south side of North 1150 Rd. (785) 864-3453
County: Douglas
1pm. This glaciated tallgrass prairie offers diverse native plants as well as uncommon birds like Henslow's Sparrow, notable insects like Golden Byssus skippers, and interesting rocks like Sioux Quartzite. This may be the furthest south the glaciers advanced in Kansas, and large pink and red Sioux Quartzite boulders, glacial erratics, can be found in several areas. Among the 270 recorded plant species, we hope to see the federally protected Mead's milkweed, Prairie phlox, Starry Catchfly, Topeka Purple-coneflower, and Tall Cinquefoil! Other plants of interest include the Adder's Tongue Fern --one of the few prairie ferns and Cluster fescue (Festuca paradoxa) --a fescue rarely found in Kansas. Kansas Native Plant Society and Grassland Heritage Foundation co-sponsor this event. Co-leaders: Jeff Hansen, KNPS President and GHF Board Member and Shirley Braunlich, KNPS Board Member. Coblentz Prairie is 40-minutes west of Lawrence, KS in west-central Douglas County at the intersection of E 1 Road and North 1150th Road; it is part of the Clinton Wildlife area. Meet a half-mile east of the intersection on the south side of North 1150 Rd. (785) 864-3453
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