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

Coffey County Wildflower Tour

Saturday, May 31st, 2008
County: Coffey
9:30-11:30am. Join the Coffey County Conservation District and Kansas Native Plant Society for a walking wildflower tour near Coffey County Lake. Enjoy refreshments before the tour and a cookout after the tour. We will meet at the Black Bear Bosin Shelter house, south of the Eisenhower Educational Building. Directions: One mile east of Hwy 75 on 17th Road, then south to the shelter. On Hwy 75, 17th Road is 10 miles south of I-35 or 5 miles north of Burlington. There is no charge but you must RSVP by May 23rd. Also contact us for information on camping, hotels, dining and shopping in the area. Please call Kristi Vogts or Mary Lou Ponder during business hours (620) 364-2182 ext. 3 or Krista Dahlinger on evenings or weekends (316) 258-6341.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

PRAIRIE RECONSTRUCTION

Volunteers are needed to prepare soil and seed one and a half acres with seven species of grass and more than 30 species of wildflowers. The historic site is near the junction of the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon Trails.

Join members of the Santa Fe Trails Association, Kansas City Historic Trails Associations, and Oregon & California Trails Association and members of other Gardner, Kansas, community associations.

SATURDAY, MAY 24 – COME WHEN YOU CAN.
9:00 a.m. to Noon – join a seeding team to mix and broadcast seed. There are four different mixes.

1:00 to 3:30 p.m. – finish seeding. Start covering seed and begin to place dry land plants and wetland plants. Bring boots!

SUNDAY, MAY 25
10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. – prepare soil adjacent to walkways for seeding Buffalo Grass. Finish seeding shade mix and dry land seed.

1:00 to 3:30 p.m. – Place plants and finish project.

The site is located on Highway 56 at 183rd St., which is two miles west of downtown Gardner, or 17 miles east of Highway 59 or 13 miles east of Baldwin City. The information shelter and Parking Lot I visible on the north side of the highway. Look for the signs.


For more information please contact:
John Atkinson: 816-233-3924
Cell: 816-351-5764
E-mail:Atkinson@stjoelive.com

Fred Markham: 816-356-0498
Cell: 816-665-0043
E-mail: dmarkeind@aol.com