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Topeka Nature Walk • Shawnee County

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 @ 6-7pm
Felker Park • Topeka, KS • Map

Take a one hour nature walk and learn more about birds, flowers, trees and insects from members of the Topeka Audubon Society and the Kansas Native Plant Society. Registration is required. Call 785-580-4540 for registration, details and location. Limit 30 people. Sponsored by the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

Contact: Kimberly Sain 785-580-4540

Sponsor: Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

KLT's Annual Akin Prairie Wildflower Walk • Douglas County

Saturday, May 25th, 2013 @ 1pm-2:30pm
1850 N 1150 Rd • Lawrence, KS • Map

Led by KLT founding member Dr. Kelly Kindscher, our ever-popular Wildflower Walk is a treat for the soul and the senses. This event is free and open to all. Wear sturdy shoes, pants, hat, and repellent. Bring the family and enjoy the bouquet of the prairie meadow!

Contact: Carol Huettner (785) 749-3297

Sponsor: Kansas Land Trust

Rock Springs Wildflower Walk • Geary County

Saturday, Jun 1st, 2013 @ 9am-2pm
Rock Springs • 1168 K-157 Highway • Junction City, KS • Map

Come and see the colorful spring wildflowers at Rock Springs 4-H Center! Rock Springs is located just south and west of Junction City, KS and consists of over 735 acres of land in the beautiful Flint Hills. One of the most unique features of Rock Springs is the natural spring that supplies 1,000 gallons of water a minute!

The Wildflower Walk will include morning snacks, a hot lunch at the dining hall, and an instructor led wildflower identification walk, for a cost per participant of $20. The Wildflower Walk brochure (found under ‘More Info’ below) has more information about the day’s events and also includes the registration form.
NOTE DATE CHANGE from 5/4

Contact: Josh Wilson 785.257.3221

More Info: Wildflower Walk Brochure (PDF)

Sponsor: Rock Springs 4-H Center

Medicinal Plants used by the Military • Bourbon County

Saturday, Jun 1st, 2013 @ 11am
Fort Scott NHS • Old Fort Blvd • Fort Scott, KS • Map

The City Fort Scott Good 0'Days Celebration is going on this weekend and the National Historic Site is planning a US Military Medicine event including a tour of the prairie with discussion about what herbs were being used likely during the time of the Fort as well as having their ambulance and more out on display.

Contact: Rondi Anderson 620-249-5456

Sponsor: Fort Scott NHS

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Spring Wildflower Tour #1 of 2 • McPherson County

Saturday, Jun 1st, 2013 @ 10am
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge • 2565 Pueblo Road • Canton, KS • Map

Spring Wildflower Tours - June 1st and 8th, 10 A.M.
Board the tram for tour of prairie with wildflowers and buffalo. The baby buffalos are a treat to see. The wildflower tour is a self guided walking tour with flowers flagged. Reservations are required. Contact Friends of Maxwell to reserve your place.

Contact: Friends of Maxwell 620-628-4455

Sponsor: Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

Hidden Valley Trail Maintenance • Douglas County

Saturday, Jun 1st, 2013 @ 8am-noon
3420 W. Bob Billings Pkwy • Lawrence, KS • Map

Celebrate National Trails Day with us and join in on our annual workday as we clear back encroaching brush along the numerous trails of Hidden Valley Camp, a 40-acre semi-wilderness area in the heart of Lawrence, KS.
Long pants and sleeves recommended, and sturdy, enclosed shoes a must. Tools and work gloves provided, as well as refreshments (ice water & trail mix). Sharp loppers and pruning saws optional. Any amount of time appreciated. Contact Durand for details. (Raindate: Sunday, June 2, 8am-noon)

Contact: Durand Reiber 785-865-4657

Sponsor: Friends of Hidden Valley

Konza Prairie Annual Wildflower Walk • Riley County

Sunday, Jun 2nd, 2013 @ 6:30pm-9pm
Konza Prairie Biological Station • 100 Konza Prairie Lane • Manhattan, KS • Map

Join us for the Annual Konza Prairie Wildflower Walk, Sunday, June 2nd from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. Walk the glorious Butterfly Hill trail with experienced naturalists and identify the multitude of wildflowers found on our site at this time of the year. This trail is normally not open to the public and is the best trail on the Konza Prairie for seeing wildflowers and amazing prairie vistas. Fee = $10/person with proceeds going to the Konza Environmental Education Program.

Contact: Jill Haukos 785-587-0381

More Info: Jill Haukos

Sponsor: Friends of Konza Prairie

Earth Partnership for Schools Summer Institute • Harvey County

Monday, Jun 3rd, 2013 to Friday, Jun 7th, 2013 @ 8am-5pm
Dyck Arboretum • 177 West Hickory Street • Hesston, KS • Map

This 40-hour institute for school teachers and staff will train you in the award-winning Earth Partnership for Schools (EPS) Program that you can share with your students and colleagues for years to come. Learn to engage your students in the process of prairie gardening on school grounds, earn three hours of graduate credit, take home an extensive curriculum, eat good food for a week, and have a fun and meaningful experience at the Dyck Arboretum!

Contact: Brad Guhr (620) 327-8127

More Info: Event Info

Sponsor: Dyck Arboretum

Class: Identification and Uses of Herbs in Domestic and Native Landscapes of the Great Plains • Sedgwick County

Monday, Jun 3rd, 2013 to Thursday, Jun 6th, 2013 @ 8am-noon
Great Plains Nature Center • 6232 E.29th St. North • Wichita, KS • Map

This 1-2 credit hour class meets Mondays through Thursday. In this field class we will find and identify wild herbs that sustained and enriched the lives of Native Americans and early settlers and learn the culture and uses of herbs from the old world. Our class will prepare a banquet of edible herbs collected from field excursions and study those used as beverages, garnishments, scents, flavorings, and for medical benefits. Instructed by Tom Eddy Ph.D.

Contact: Joyce Lent (316) 683-5499 ext 210

More Info: Class Info

Sponsor: Emporia State University

Tri County Rangeland Workshop • Woodson County

Friday, Jun 7th, 2013 @ 8:30am-12:30pm
Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area • 738 Fegan Rd. • Toronto, KS • Map

Emphasis of this field day is plant id but there will also be stations on plant identification, invasive plant control, rangeland monitoring techniques, rangeland conservation practices, patch burning, and plant diversity. Meet at boat ramp on the southwest side of the lake. For more information or to RSVP for the lunch, call Amber at 620-583-5544 ext.1334

Contact: Amber Johnson 620-583-5544

More Info: Workshop Flyer

Sponsor: Natural Resources Conservation Service

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Chase County State Lake Prairie Walk • Chase County

Saturday, Jun 8th, 2013 @ 6pm
1130 Lake Road • Cottonwood Falls, KS • Map

Join us at Chase County State Lake to see amazing amounts of wildflowers, especially butterfly milkweed. This will be a leisurely informal walk to enjoy the wonders of the prairie and identify native flora. Glenn Fell will be the official "guide" but everyone's knowledge will be called upon for an informal and fun experience. This is a KNPS Emporia Region event. Please RSVP Glenn if you plan to attend. The lake is located 2 miles west of Cottonwood Falls on Lake Road.

Contact: Glenn Fell 620 794 8478

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

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Coombs Prairie Restoration • Jackson County

Saturday, Jun 8th, 2013 @ 1pm
18160 222nd Road • Holton, KS • Map

Tour Fred and Nancy Coombs' ongoing restoration of native grasses and forbs on their 156-year-old family farm. Highlights include butterfly gardens, reseeding of old fields, patch burning, invasive species control, and timber stand improvement. The Fred & Nancy have documented over 100 species of birds on their property. By restoring their land to native flora, they have created an astounding haven for all kinds of wildlife. See nesting tree swallows, bluebirds, barn swallows and maybe even the rare Henslow sparrow.
The land has been in the Coombs family since 1857, serving most of the time as a subsistence family farm. Some parcels were planted in native grasses in the 1960s, but since the late 1990s Fred and Nancy Coombs have planted native forbs and grasses on a 13-acre patch, participated in EQIP and WRAP grants on other acres, and started a butterfly garden around the house. Beginning this spring the site also hosts pollinator research by two Kansas University PhD students. The 80-acre property includes prairie, woodlands, a Nebo riparian area, two small ponds, and a marsh area.
Directions: 6 miles east of Holton on K-116, right (south) on X Rd, right (west) on 222nd Road, quarter mile to driveway on the right (north).

Contact: Fred or Nancy Coombs 785-872-3463

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

Cowley County Wildflower Tour • Cowley County

Saturday, Jun 8th, 2013 @ 7:30am-1pm
Winfield High School • 300 Viking Blvd. • Winfield, KS • Map

Location to be announced. Native pastures provide a unique opportunity to enjoy native plants in their best possible environment. We will provide lunch and transportation to the ranch for a fee of $5 per person. Please come join us for a fantastic tour led by Conservation District, NRCS, KNPS, Farm Bureau and Southwestern College staff.

Buses depart Winfield High School at 8 a.m. sharp!

Contact: Rachel Parrish 620-221-1850 ext 3

Sponsor: Cowley County Conservation District

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Spring Wildflower Tour #2 of 2 • McPherson County

Saturday, Jun 8th, 2013 @ 10am
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge • 2565 Pueblo Road • Canton, KS • Map

Spring Wildflower Tours - June 1st and 8th, 10 A.M.
Board the tram for tour of prairie with wildflowers and buffalo. The baby buffalos are a treat to see. The wildflower tour is a self guided walking tour with flowers flagged. Reservations are required. Contact Friends of Maxwell to reserve your place.

Contact: Friends of Maxwell 620-628-4455

More Info: Kansas Byways (Sue Stringer) 785-296-8669

Sponsor: Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

Class: Field Botany for Great Plains Naturalists • Sedgwick County

Monday, Jun 10th, 2013 to Friday, Jun 28th, 2013 @ 8am-noon
Great Plains Nature Center • 6232 E.29th St. North • Wichita, KS • Map

This 3 credit hour class meets weekly Monday through Thursday. In our field excursions we will learn the plants of prairies, wetlands, and woodlands and how each is specifically adapted to the landscapes or waterscapes of the Great Plains. Distribution patterns of key species and their importance in the various vegetation types will be measured. The role of Great Plains plants in human history and sustainable management strategies will be examined. Materials useful in classrooms and for field activities will be provided.

Contact: Joyce Lent (316) 683-5499 ext 210

More Info: Class Info

Sponsor: Emporia State University

Plant Scientists Wanted! Undergraduate Outreach Event at K-State • Riley County

Wednesday, Jun 12th, 2013 @ 9am
Hilton Garden Inn • 410 South 3rd Street • Manhattan, KS • Map

During the week of June 12-14, 2013, the North Central Division of the American Phytopathological Society (http://www.apsnet.org/members/divisions/nc/meetings/Pages/default.aspx) will be meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, Kansas.

On June 12, from 9 AM to 4 PM we will convene a targeted program for undergraduate students to raise awareness of the profession of plant pathology and agricultural sciences as a career choice. Registration is FREE! A complimentary box lunch will be provided for all those who register by June 3.

All undergraduate students, their advisors, and mentors are invited! Please e-mail: stepha1@ksu.edu to register!

Contact: Stephanie 785-532-6176

More Info: Plant Scientists Wanted!

Sponsor: North Central Division - American Phytopathological Society

Talk: Woodland Wonders from the Wild • Johnson County

Friday, Jun 14th, 2013 @ 6
Regnier Center, JCCC • 12345 College Blvd • Overland Park, KS • Map

An enlightening, entertaining and educational look at some of the plants that we overlook on our woodland hikes. Some of the most interesting and unusual wildflowers are growing in our own backyards right under our noses. Join native plant expert Barry Glick for a fascinating wild wander into the wonderful world of woodland wildflowers”. This talk is free and open to the public.

Contact: Dr. Lekha Sreedhar 913.271.5532

More Info: JCCC Horticultural Sciences

Sponsor: Horticultural Sciences

Overland Park Arboretum BioBlitz • Johnson County

Saturday, Jun 15th, 2013 @ 9am-4pm
Overland Park Arboretum • 8909 West 179th Street • Overland Park, KS • Map

Scientists, teachers, students and the puiblic will participate in this one day inventory of species at the Arboretum. Several KNPS members are BioBlitz leaders. Plants to be counted include trees, wildflowers, and grasses. Information and registration is at www.opabg.org. The cost is $25/participant. Lunch will be available for sale. Rain or shine! See the link to the brochure for more information.

Contact: Dan Johnson

More Info: 2013 Bioblitz Brochure

Sponsor: Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

GHF Prairie Appreciation Day • Jackson County

Saturday, Jun 15th, 2013 @ 9am
Rachel Snyder Prairie • 158th Street & U Road • Mayetta, KS • Map

Come spend a day on the prairie with the Grassland Heritage Foundation!

Join us on Saturday, June 15th when GHF will host our annual Prairie Appreciation Day at Rachel Snyder Prairie. We’ll have fun family-friendly activities including walks, lunch, a prairie scavenger hunt, and even opportunities to help with restoration work. Everyone is encouraged to bring their cameras and sketchbooks. An RSVP is requested.

This annual event is one of the few days each year when the public can explore the Snyder prairie and experience its beauty for themselves. The guided walks will be conducted by Frank Norman, prairie restoration expert and Rachel Snyder land manager, who will point out all of the unique and most beautiful aspects of the prairie.

New this year – Explore the prairie on your own!
For adventurous types, we will also offer an unguided Discovery Hunt. We’ll give you a list of things to look for then you can explore the prairie at your leisure. Be sure to bring your camera and snap photos of all of your favorite prairie plants (and hopefully a few animals). We’ll upload your pictures to the GHF Flicker page while you’re still on the prairie and ask our experts to tell us all about your discoveries. Bring your camera’s USB cord so we can upload the pictures.

Snyder Prairie is located approx. 17 miles north of Topeka on Hwy. 75. To get to the prairie take Hwy. 75 to 158th St. (just south of Mayetta) Turn east on 158th St. and go approx. 3 miles to U Rd. Turn right (south) on U Rd. and proceed another ½ mile to the gate. Parking is available along the road. Contact Kim Bellemere, GHF Education Coordinator, at 785-840-8104 or grasslandheritage@gmail.com with questions and to RSVP.

Prairie Appreciation Day Schedule:
9:15 – 11:30- Wildflower Walk and Snyder Tour with Frank Norman. A second, shorter walk will be held at 10:30 for late-comers.

9:00 – 12:00 – Discovery Hunts

12:00 – 12:30 – Lunch (provided)

12:30 - 3:00 - Restoration work with the Groundhogs (Snyder restoration volunteers) possibly including: Painting fence posts purple,picking up woody debris, and pulling garlic mustard

Contact: Kim Bellemere 785-840-8104

Sponsor: Grassland Heritage Foundation

Juneteenth Wildflower Walk • Geary County

Sunday, Jun 16th, 2013 @ 7:30pm
11003 Lower McDowell Rd. • Manhattan, KS • Map

Juneteenth-Geary County, Prairie Heritage, Inc., and Bird Runner Wildlife Refuge invite the public to enjoy, free of charge, A WILDFLOWER WALK on the TALL GRASS PRAIRIE. Members of the Kansas Native Plant Society (Co-sponsor) will serve as prairie guides.

Arrive: Any time between 7-8 p.m. Walks will leave the Guest House every few minutes during this hour.
Depart: Any time between 8-10:30 p.m. Some moonlight activities may be scheduled.

Juneteenth and the prairie just go together! Juneteenth marks the end of formal slavery in the United States—a milestone along our freedom-way. The prairie embodies freedom! Unlike cropground, which is enslaved to the farmer, the prairie is a self-directing, self-realizing polyculture. In its combination of individualism, mutual interdependence, and autonomy, it is the biological version of our American ideal!

Directions: From I-70, Exit 307, travel 5 miles south on Lower McDowell Rd., staying on the paved road. When you get to #11003 (the old number, #4815, is still on the mailbox also), you will see the entrance to Bird Runner Wildlife Refuge on the left side of the road. Take the gravel drive past the pole barn, across the bridge, and up the hill to the guest house. Leave your car along the drive. A guide (serving iced tea) will greet you at the guest house.
NOTE DATE CHANGE from 6/19

Contact: Margy Stewart 785.539.5592

Sponsor: Bird Runner Wildlife Refuge & McDowell Creek Community Center

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Grant-Bradbury Prairie Walk • Shawnee County

Thursday, Jun 20th, 2013 @ 6:30pm-dark
SW University Blvd & SW Westview Rd • Topeka, KS • Map

Join KNPS for the 10th Annual walk at Grant-Bradbury Prairie Park. This 80-acre pristine tallgrass prairie contains over 300 plant species. On this tour, you will learn and see the plants and animals of the prairie. Bring a camera because the spring wildflowers will be at their peak. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Children are encouraged to come. Jeff Hansen, wildflower expert, will lead the tour. Directions: Take Topeka Blvd south to the University Blvd intersection (stoplight), take a right. Take University west about half a mile - when the road curves south, you are at the driveway to the park gate. There is a small building at the driveway. Contact Jeff if you plan to attend.

Contact: Jeff Hansen (785) 806-6917

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

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Native Plant Garden Tour • Miami County

Saturday, Jun 22nd, 2013 @ 1pm
27995 Plum Creek Rd • Paola, KS • Map

Long Lips Farm. This 4 acre certified butterfly garden features native plants that are the obligate hosts for butterfly and moth caterpillars, as well as the adult beverage, nectar, from native and ornamental flowers. KNPS members are welcome to further explore the property which includes a lake, swampy woodlot, and a meadow in restoration process.
Directions: DO NOT USE ONLINE MAPPING directions—they are WRONG! and will send you way south to Osawatomie. Long Lips Farm is north of Paola, ½ block south of K-68 on Plum Creek Road. Look for the Long Lips Farm sign on K-68, 6.5 miles west of K-7/169.

Contact: Lenora Larson 913-294-3360

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

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Tuttle Creek Lake Summer Wildflower Walk • Riley County

Saturday, Jun 22nd, 2013 @ 10am-noon
Tuttle Creek Lake Visitor’s Center • 5020 Tuttle Creek Blvd • Manhattan, KS • Map

Plan to be a part of the summer wildflower walk at Tuttle Creek Lake, led by KNPS guides. This is an opportunity to see and learn about the summer flowers of the Flint Hills. Each participant will receive a free copy of A Pocket Guide to Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses to use during the hike and then take home. So we will know how many to expect for the outing, please preregister with UFM Community Learning Center 785(539-8763) or info@tryufm.org. There is no registration fee.

Contact: Paul Weidhaas 785-539-8511

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

Mitchell Farmstead/Mt. Mitchell Heritage Prairie Celebration • Wabaunsee County

Saturday, Jun 22nd, 2013 @ 9am-2pm
29213 Mt. Mitchell Rd. • Wamego, KS • Map

The Mt. Mitchell Prairie Guards will celebrate the arrival of summer at their annual open house at the Mitchell Farmstead and the Mt. Mitchell Heritage Prairie on Saturday, June 22nd from 9 am until 2 pm.
Diane Eickhoff and Aaron Barnhart will talk about their new book, A Travel Guide to Historic and Civil War Sites in the Missouri-Kansas Border Region. The authors, an historian and a journalist, have spent the last 16 years driving back and forth across one of the least visible and most contentious borders in American history: the Missouri-Kansas state line. This political boundary — “a line in the dirt,” they call it in their new travel guide — produced the fierce border wars that gave the world John Brown, Jesse James, William Clarke Quantrill and Ride With the Devil.
Beginning at 9 a.m., docents from the Kansas Native Plant Society and Konza Prairie will be at the Mitchell Prairie to identify wildflowers and plants for visitors.
The Missouri Valley Impressionists Society will hold a “paintout” encouraging artists to come for the day to paint plein air, the practice of painting out doors on location. The method was used by Captain Mitchell’s daughter, Maude Josephine, as the primary method for creating her paintings and watercolors.
Prairie Larkspur (musicians Chris Day and Janet Armstead) will be performing at the farm at 10 a.m.
The public will be able to view the log cabin that William Mitchell built in 1856, which was soon after used to hide escaping slaves seeking their freedom in Canada. The home has been recognized by the National Park Service Network to Freedom program as a documented Underground Railroad site of national significance.
The Mt. Mitchell Heritage Prairie has also been recognized by the Park Service as a Network to Freedom site. The public is invited to explore Mt. Mitchell and its new trails, including a path to the ruts of the Topeka-Ft. Riley Road, which was the local route of the UGRR. Visitors can now stand in the very “tracks” of the Underground Railroad. The park is open from sunrise to sunset year-round. It is owned by Audubon of Kansas and managed by the Mt. Mitchell Prairie Guards.

Contact: Michael Stubbs 785-256-6228

Sponsor: Mt. Mitchell Prairie Guards

Marvin Schwilling Memorial Butterfly Count in the Flint Hills • Chase County

Saturday, Jun 22nd, 2013 @ 8:30am-4pm
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve • 2480 KS Hwy 177 • Strong City, KS • Map

This is the 5th Annual Count. No prior experience in identifying butterflies is necessary. Please bring binoculars. A digital camera may also come in handy. Suggested attire includes hiking boots, hat, and long pants. Come for the whole day or just half a day.Be sure to RSVP 620-273-6034. Lunch and water provided. Group counts will run from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 (noon) and again from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be a small lunch break between sessions to compare notes, share adventures, and switch groups and locations. Transportation to counting locations will be by car-pooling in private vehicles, which will be no further than 7 miles one way. Walk-ins are welcome. Come Join the Fun!!!
The Nature Conservancy is the largest conservation organization in the state of Kansas. Since 1989, the Conservancy has protected over 95,000 acres of land across the state including tallgrass prairies, wetlands, mixed-grass prairies and short-grass prairies.

The Nature Conservancy has a remarkable record of conservation initiatives across the state. In addition of establishing nature preserves, the Conservancy has partnered with universities, other land trusts, and private landowners to help protect a valuable cross section of Kansas.

Contact: Paula Matile 620-273-8552

More Info: Event Flyer

Sponsor: The Nature Conservancy

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Summer Board Meeting • Reno County

Saturday, Jul 13th, 2013 @ 1-3pm
Dillon Nature Center • 3002 East 30th Avenue • Hutchinson, KS • Map

This is the summer board meeting of the KNPS. KNPS members are welcome to attend the board meeting.

Contact: KNPS

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

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Sandhills State Park Wildflower Walk • Reno County

Saturday, Jul 13th, 2013 @ 9am
Sandhills State Park • 4207 E. 56th • Hutchinson, KS • Map

Join us for a walk on this unique sand prairie. Sandhills State Park is located on the north edge of the Hutchinson Dune Tract. The dunes formed by wind-deposited sands from the Arkansas River thousands of years ago. See many species of plants that are only found on sand prairies. Meet at Sandhills State Park at the southwestern parking lot on the N side of E 56th Avenue.

Contact: Craig Freeman

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

Manhattan Butterfly Count • Riley County

Saturday, Jul 13th, 2013 @ 9am-2:30pm
Manhattan Plant Materials Center • 3800 S 20th St • Manhattan, KS • Map

The 38th Annual North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Count will be held at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Manhattan Plant Materials Center (PMC). There is no charge to participate in the count, but volunteers need to register by July 10, by calling 785-539-8761, to assure adequate supply of materials and handouts. Those attending should bring a sack lunch, bug spray, binoculars, field guides, and camera (if you have them) and dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Attendees at the event will be on their own for transportation. If special accommodations are needed, please let the PMC know.

Contact: Richard Wynia 785-539-8761

Sponsor: Manhattan Plant Materials Center

Snyder Prairie Workday: Sericea Lespedeza Control • Jackson County

Saturday, Jul 20th, 2013 @ 9am
158th Rd & U Rd • Mayetta, KS • Map

GHF’s volunteer prairie management group, Groundhogs, meets at Snyder Prairie on the 3rd Saturday of each month of the year, except December. Snyder Prairie is a 140-acre tract of land composed of prairie and woods east of Mayetta, Kansas. Contact Frank to help. Work for July includes control of sericea lespedeza, an invasive species.

Contact: Frank Norman (785) 691-9748

Sponsor: Grassland Heritage Foundation

Creatures of the Night: Mothing by Black Light • Miami County

Saturday, Jul 20th, 2013 @ 7pm
27995 Plum Creek Road • Paola, KS • Map

Potluck dinner at 7:00 PM. Bring a dish to pass, adult beverages and lawn chairs. People are welcome to come early to enjoy the garden with its many native plants, birds, butterflies and pollinators in action.
We’ll set up black lights at sundown and should start seeing action by 9:30 PM.
Participants are welcome to further explore the property which includes a lake, swampy woodlot, and a meadow in restoration process.
Directions: Long Lips Farm is north of Paola, ½ block south of K-68 on Plum Creek Road. Look for the Long Lips Farm sign on K-68, 6.5 miles west of K-7/169. Contact: Lenora Larson 913-294-3360

Contact: Lenora Larson 913-284-3360

Sponsor: Idalia Butterfly Society

Mid-/Shortgrass Range School • Scott County

Tuesday, Aug 6th, 2013 to Thursday, Aug 8th, 2013 @ 9:30amstart
Camp Lakeside • Lake Scott • Scott City, KS • Map

The 2013 School theme is Creating Range Wealth through Soil Health. This 3-day school covers basic principles of grassland ecology focusing on soil health, plant identification, forage measuring and monitoring, wildlife/livestock interactions - especially the Lesser Prairie Chicken, rangeland improvement concepts, practices, and systems. Wednesday is spent on The Nature Conservancy's Smoky Valley Ranch. The course is a blend of hands-on field exercises and classroom instruction using a cadre of instructors from NRCS, Ft. Hays State University, K-State Agronomy/Extension/Ag Station, TNC staff, state agency staff, and ranchers. Visit www.kglc.org and look in the navigation bar for 2013 Range Schools for more details. Apply online, or use the forms available by contacting Tim Christian, State Coordinator, at tdchristian@cox.net

Contact: Tim Christian 620-241-3636

Sponsor: Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition

America's Grasslands Conference: The Future of Grasslands in a Changing Landscape • Riley County

Monday, Aug 12th, 2013 to Wednesday, Aug 14th, 2013 @ 9am
Hilton Garden Inn • 410 S 3rd St • Manhattan, KS • Map

The National Wildlife Federation, along with Kansas State University, is pleased to announced that the second America’s Grasslands Conference will be held August 12-14th in Manhattan, Kansas. America’s Grasslands: The Future of Grasslands in a Changing Landscape will bring together researchers, natural resources professionals, farmers and ranchers, policy experts, and conservationists to discuss the conservation of North America’s grasslands and the opportunities and outlook for these vital ecosystems in a changing landscape. The conference will take place August 13-14, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and Kansas State University. August 12th will be a day of optional field trips to local grasslands in Kansas. Speaking, sponsorship, and vending opportunities are available. Please contact us to get involved.

Contact: Aviva Glaser 202.797.6616

More Info: America's Grasslands Conference website

Sponsor: National Wildlife Federation

Tallgrass Range School • Chase County

Tuesday, Aug 20th, 2013 to Thursday, Aug 22nd, 2013 @ 9:30am
Camp Wood YMCA • Camp Wood Road • Elmdale, KS • Map

The 2013 theme is Creating Range Wealth through Soil Health. The School covers the basic principles of grassland ecology focusing on soil health, plant identification, forage measuring and monitoring, wildlife/livestock interaction - especially the Greater Prairie Chicken and Northern Bobwhite Quail as well as other grassland birds, mammals, and aquatic species, and rangeland improvement concepts, practices, and systems. The cadre of instructors includes NRCS, K-State Agronomy/Extension/Geography, state agencies, organizations, and ranchers. most of Wednesday is spent on a neighboring ranch to interact with a ranching family as they share their management and production philosophies. For more information, go top www.kglc.org and look in the navigation bar for 2013 Range Schools for more additional details and online application processes, or contact Tim Christian at tdchristian@cox.net.

Contact: Tim Christian 620-241-3636

Sponsor: Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition

Snyder Prairie Workday: Sericea Lespedeza Control • Jackson County

Saturday, Aug 24th, 2013 @ 9am
158th Rd & U Rd • Mayetta, KS • Map

Note, date moved up a week. GHF’s volunteer prairie management group, Groundhogs, meets at Snyder Prairie on the 3rd Saturday of each month of the year, except December. Snyder Prairie is a 140-acre tract of land composed of prairie and woods east of Mayetta, Kansas. Contact Frank to help. Work for August includes control of sericea lespedeza, an invasive species.

Contact: Frank Norman (785) 691-9748

Sponsor: Grassland Heritage Foundation

Tuttle Creek Lake Fall Wildflower Walk • Riley County

Saturday, Sep 7th, 2013 @ 10am-noon
Tuttle Creek Lake Visitor’s Center • 5020 Tuttle Creek Blvd • Manhattan, KS • Map

Plan to be a part of the fall wildflower walk at Tuttle Creek Lake, led by KNPS guides. This is an opportunity to see and learn about the fall flowers of the Flint Hills such as: boneset, tall thistle; curly cup gumweed, liatris (gayfeather); several different species of sunflowers and also goldenrods and native asters. Each participant will receive a free copy of A Pocket Guide to Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses to use during the hike and then take home. So we will know how many to expect for the outing, please preregister with UFM Community Learning Center 785(539-8763) or info@tryufm.org. There is no registration fee.

Contact: Paul Weidhaas 785-539-8511

Sponsor: Tuttle Creek Lake

Fall Wildflower Tour at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge #1 of 2 • McPherson County

Saturday, Sep 7th, 2013 @ 10am
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge • 2565 Pueblo Road • Canton, KS • Map

Fall Wildflower Tours - Sept 7th and 14th, 10 A.M.
Board the tram for a tour of the prairie with wildflowers and buffalo. Fall is a special time on the prairie, with the abundant flowers and changing foliage color. There is also a self guided walking tour with flowers flagged. The Refuge is located 6 miles north of Canton, KS.

Contact: Friends of Maxwell (620)-628-4455

Sponsor: Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

Snyder Prairie Workday: Prairie Seed Collection • Jackson County

Saturday, Sep 14th, 2013 @ 9am
158th Rd & U Rd • Mayetta, KS • Map

GHF’s volunteer prairie management group, Groundhogs, meets at Snyder Prairie on the 3rd Saturday of each month of the year, except December. Snyder Prairie is a 140-acre tract of land composed of prairie and woods east of Mayetta, Kansas. Contact Frank to help. Work for September includes collecting and broadcasting of prairie seed.

Contact: Frank Norman (785) 691-9748

Sponsor: Grassland Heritage Foundation

Fall Wildflower Tour at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge #2 of 2 • McPherson County

Saturday, Sep 14th, 2013 @ 10am
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge • 2565 Pueblo Road • Canton, KS • Map

Fall Wildflower Tours - Sept 7th and 14th, 10 A.M.
Board the tram for a tour of the prairie with wildflowers and buffalo. Fall is a special time on the prairie, with the abundant flowers and changing foliage color. There is also a self guided walking tour with flowers flagged. The Refuge is located 6 miles north of Canton, KS.

Contact: Friends of Maxwell (620)-628-4455

Sponsor: Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

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Jones Park Prairie Walk • Lyon County

Saturday, Sep 21st, 2013 @ 6pm
Jones Youth Recreation Park • Emporia, KS • Map

This park in Emporia has prairie remnants on it. Join us to explore this park and seek out native prairie plants. We hope to see sunflowers, blue sage, gayfeathers, goldenrods, asters as well as many native grasses in their full glory. Meet at the parking lot off of Jones Avenue.

Contact: Glenn Fell 620 794 8478

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

Collecting and Saving Seeds • Miami County

Thursday, Oct 3rd, 2013 @ 6:30pm
Miami County Extension Office • 104 South Brayman • Paola, KS • Map

Kansas native plant enthusiasts who wish to have them in their own gardens know that seed-saving is often the best means of acquiring these beauties. Ken O’Dell will demonstrate the basics of seed-saving. He will show various collecting and drying techniques, followed by cleaning and packaging. Proper storage, essential to seed viability, will also be discussed. The final step in seed-saving, next spring’s planting, will be demonstrated to assist participants in achieving a successful outcome.

Contact: Lenora Larson 913-284-3360

Sponsor: Miami County Extension Master Gardeners

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Prairie Seed Collecting at Grant Bradbury • Shawnee County

Sunday, Oct 13th, 2013 @ 1-3pm
SW University Blvd & SW Westview Rd • Topeka, KS • Map

Volunteers are needed to help collect prairie wildflower and grass seed at Grant-Bradbury Prairie Park for a wildlife restoration area at Warren Nature Area. We will be working with the city to restore an old brome/fescue field to a diverse planting of native wildflowers and grasses. Volunteers should wear sturdy footwear and long pants. Bring a plastic pail or paper sack for collecting seeds. Pruning sheers are helpful too. No experience is necessary. All ages can help. Please contact Jeff if you plan to attend. We will celebrate afterwards with a stop at the Blind Tiger Brewery at 37th & Kansas.

Contact: Jeff Hansen 785-806-6917

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

Snyder Prairie Workday: Prairie Seed Collection • Jackson County

Saturday, Oct 19th, 2013 @ 9am
158th Rd & U Rd • Mayetta, KS • Map

GHF’s volunteer prairie management group, Groundhogs, meets at Snyder Prairie on the 3rd Saturday of each month of the year, except December. Snyder Prairie is a 140-acre tract of land composed of prairie and woods east of Mayetta, Kansas. Contact Frank to help. Work for October includes collecting and broadcasting of prairie seed.

Contact: Frank Norman (785) 691-9748

Sponsor: Grassland Heritage Foundation

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Fall Workday: Clear Bush Honeysuckle along Shunga Creek • Shawnee County

Saturday, Nov 9th, 2013 @ 10am-noon
Felker Park • Topeka, KS • Map

Help clear bush honeysuckle from the woods along Shunga Creek. We are going to clear an area of the woods of the honeysuckle and other invasives to allow the native species to flourish. We will focus on areas along the creek. The natives are barely hanging on because of the honeysuckle. The area we will be working is adjacent to the bridge at Gage & Shunga Creek. Parking is at the Tennis Courts near 26th & Gage Blvd. Wear sturdy shoes, leather gloves, long sleeves and pants. Bring a lopper or pruning saw to cut bushes; A shovel for digging them out. Pruning sheers for cutting vines. We need people to cut, haul branches and spray the cut stumps. You can also pull seedlings. Pulling seedlings is easy and prevents reinvestation. The City of Topeka will be supplying herbicide to treat the cut stumps to ensure the honeysuckle doesn't regrow. We will also pick up trash, and a few trash bags would be useful. After working we will take a nature walk around the area and identify invasive plants as well as natives. We'll finish by going to lunch at Boss Hawg BBQ. Felker Park is a park in Topeka that is off Gage Blvd adjacent to Shunga Creek. Please contact Jeff if you plan to attend.

Contact: Jeff Hansen 785 806 6917

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

Snyder Prairie Workday: Tree/Brush Cutting • Jackson County

Saturday, Nov 16th, 2013 @ 9am
158th Rd & U Rd • Mayetta, KS • Map

GHF’s volunteer prairie management group, Groundhogs, meets at Snyder Prairie on the 3rd Saturday of each month of the year, except December. Snyder Prairie is a 140-acre tract of land composed of prairie and woods east of Mayetta, Kansas. Contact Frank to help. Work for November includes cutting and piling trees and shrubs using chainsaws and loppers.

Contact: Frank Norman (785) 691-9748

Sponsor: Grassland Heritage Foundation

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Spread prairie seed at Warren Nature Area • Shawnee County

Sunday, Dec 1st, 2013 @ 11am-12pm
Felker Park • Topeka, KS • Map

Spread the seed we collected at Grant bradbury prairie in the Warren Nature Area. The Warren Nature Area grasslands are being restored to prairie. Wear leather gloves as the seed will stick to cloth gloves. After the seed is scattered, we will tour the progress of the restoration. Meet at the east end of the Felker parking lot near the Bocci Ball courts. Felker Park is located at 25th and Gage Blvd. Please contact Jeff if you plan to attend.

Contact: Jeff Hansen 785 806 6917

Sponsor: Kansas Native Plant Society

About Events

About Event describes the people and experiences you might encounter on a KNPS outing.

* - KNPS sponsored/co-sponsored event