Kansas Native Plant Society - KNPS

Kansas Native Plant Society

Annual Wildflower Weekend

Hutchinson, KS

September 21-23, 2007

The annual wildflower weekend (AWW) of the Kansas Native Plant Society will take place in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The theme this year is "Wildflowers for the Masses". This includes encounters with native plants in their habitats, using them in all kinds of plantings, and children learning about them in school.

Highlights of the weekend include:

• Tour the Dillon Nature Center

• Tour the Sand Hills State Park

• Tour the Prairie Dunes Country Club

• Receive your free KNPS Wildflower Poster

• Participate in the Silent Auction

• Participate in the Photo Contest

Dillon Nature Center

Surround yourself with the beauty of the great outdoors on this 100-acre "wild arboretum" designated as a National Urban Wildlife Sanctuary. Discover more than 300 species of woody plants, hundreds of varieties of wildflowers and native grasses, 200 species of birds, and a large variety of other wildlife along three miles of National Recreation trails.

http://www.hutchrec.com/pages/dnc.html

3002 East 30th Ave.

Hutchinson, KS 67502

(620) 663-7411

Sand Hills State Park

Sand Hills State Park, a 1,123 acre natural area, has been preserved for its sand dunes, grasslands, wetlands, and woodlands. Popular activities at the park are hiking and horseback riding. Other activities include hunting, bird watching, wildflower walks, jogging and just simple relaxation in the country. There are 8 distinct trails within the park which are broken down into interpretive, hiking and horseback riding trails. There are 14 miles of trails which weave in between 10 to 40 feet high sand dunes, through grasslands and trees, and around ponds. Modern facilities are limited to two vault toilets.

http://www.naturalkansas.org/sandhill.htm

Prairie Dunes Country Club

Prairie Dunes County Club comprises approximately 400 acres, 200 of which are the golf course proper.  About 75% of the 400 acres is native vegetation, even within the golf course.  It was established in 1937 and has changed little since then.  The area has been certified since 1993 by Audubon International as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for wildlife.  There are several programs in place to preserve native areas, including a prescribed burn program.  To get a feel for the native acreage take a virtual tour of the course on the web site. http://www.prairiedunes.com/.

4812 E. 30^th, Hutchinson

(620) 662-0581

Poster

Every member in good standing is entitled to one of our 2' by 3' KNPS wildflower posters titled "Kansas Wildflowers - Gems of the Plains".

Silent Auction

The Silent auction fundraiser will be held during the business meeting Saturday morning, September 22.  Proceeds will benefit the programs of KNPS.  Bring a few items to donate to the auction and help KNPS prosper.  Items such as artwork, crafts, books, posters, apparel, jellies, cookies, breads are just a few of the items that would be appropriate.  This activity ends up being a good mixer for the members, and there is always some aggressive bidding on certain items.

Photo Contest

The Photo Contest is the perfect opportunity to show off your photography.

Rules

1.  Photo submissions are accepted from KNPS members only.

2.  The subject of all entries must be native plant species or native landscapes in the state of Kansas.

3. Two entries per category per KNPS member are allowed.

4.  Photos may be in color or black and white.

5.  Photos should range in size from 4" x 5" to 8" x 10".

6.  Each photo must be mounted on poster board. Matting is optional. No frames, please.

7.  Each photo must have a label with the following information:

Category (see below)

Photographer's Name and City

Title of photo (include plant species name, if applicable)

Location where photo was taken

Camera type (e.g. SLR, digital)

8.  Photographs will be judged according to the following criteria: Composition, Sharpness, Exposure, Color, Appropriateness to category, Presentation, Full label information

9.  Digital photographs that are cropped or enhanced must be indicated as such.

10.  Bring your photos to the Annual Meeting.  Do not send photos to KNPS. 

11.   Categories

 Trilogy:  three photos of the same species showing different stages of the plant (i.e. of the flower, fruit, and whole plant - all matted together).

 Flora:  a photo of a whole plant or plant part.  Examples: flower, fruit, seed, leaf, bark, or bud.

 Fauna:  a photo of animals using native plants. Examples: larva eating a plant, birds eating seeds, insects pollinating native flowers.

 People:  a photo of people enjoying native plants and their habitats.  Examples: people at a KNPS outing, people enjoying a favorite bloom.

 Scenery:  a photo of a native landscape such as a prairie, woodland, or wetland.  Examples: fire in the Flint Hills, sunrise on the wetlands.

 Landscaping:  a photo of native plants used in a landscape created by people.  Examples: your favorite garden.

Kansas Native Plant Society

2007 FALL ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM

September 21-23, 2007

Hutchinson, KS

Theme:  "Wildflowers for the Masses!"

Friday, September 21

2:00 pm	Fall Board Meeting (Board members only)
3:00 pm	All attendees meet at Dillon Nature Center,  3002 E 30th Avenue, 620-663-7411
3:15 pm	Presentation: Dillon Nature Center - Jim Smith
3:30 pm	Tour the Nature Center
5:00-6:00 pm	Free time (Check into lodging - see suggested list below)
6:15 pm	Dinner at Grand Prairie Hotel (Apollo I room), 1400 N Lorraine St., 620-669-9311
7:30 pm	Presentation: "The Vegetation of the Great Plains: Places, Processes, and Plants" by Craig Freeman
8:30 pm	End

Saturday, September 22   Dillon Nature Center

8:00 am	Registration Coffee, juice, and rolls Set up Silent Auction Set up Photo Contest Set up merchandise displays
9:00 am	Annual Business Meeting:  President Jeff Hansen. Past Accomplishments.  Future Plans.
10:00 am	Awards.  Election of new Board members.
10:30 am	Refreshment break.  Silent Auction continues.
10:45 am	Presentation: "Helping Children Know Wild Places" by Brad Guhr
11:15 am	Presentation: "Recipe for a Prairie Garden" by Scott Voigt
11:45 am	Break
12:00 noon	Lunch at Dillon Nature Center
1:30 pm	Caravan to Sand Hills State Park
3:30 pm	Exploration, shopping, and dinner on your own

Sunday, September 23

10:00 am	Meet at Prairie Dunes Country Club, 4812 E 30th Avenue, 620-662-0581
12:00 noon	Lunch at the Prairie Dunes Country Club
2:00 pm	Tour Bethel College's Sand Prairie Preserve (about 20 miles east of Hutchinson)

Accommodations

Hotel Room Blocks

The following hotels have reserved blocks of rooms for our members.  Please mention this when making reservations.

Room Block Hotels

America's Best Value Inn (20 rooms)

Single - $55

Double - $60

620-662-6394

1315 E. 11th

Hutchinson, KS

Hampton Inn (18 rooms)

$89.95

620-665-9800

1401 1/2 E. 11th

Hutchinson, KS

Comfort Inn (22 rooms)

$89.95

620-663-7822

1621 Super Plaza

Hutchinson, KS

Microtel Inn & Suites (10 rooms)

$69.95

620-665-3700

1420 N. Lorraine

Hutchinson, KS

Grand Prairie Hotel (20 rooms)

$89.95

866-577-7527

1400 N Lorraine Street

Hutchinson, KS

Other Hotel options

Holiday Inn Express

620-669-5200

1601 Super Plaza

Hutchinson, KS

Best Western Sun Dome

620-663-4444

11 Des Moines

South Hutchinson, KS

Econo Lodge

620-663-1211

15 E. 4th

Hutchinson, KS

Scotsman Inn

620-669-8281

322 E. 4th

Hutchinson, KS

Bed & Breakfasts

Elisha House

620-669-0856

100 Crescent Boulevard

Hutchinson, KS

Prairie Moon

620-662-8343

1403 N. Main

Hutchinson, KS

The Painted Garden

620-665-6100

408 E. 1st Ave

Hutchinson, KS

Hutchinson Attractions

Kansas Underground Salt Museum

Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center

Historic Fox Theatre

Dillon Nature Center

Carey Park

Hutchinson Zoo

Hedricks Exotic Animal Farm

Hutchinson Art Center

Kansas Kids Museum

Kansas Splashdown Indoor Water Park

Reno County Museum

Salt City Splash Aquatic Center