Annual Wildflower Weekend
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:
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Tour the Dillon Nature Center
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Tour the Sand Hills State Park
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Tour the Prairie Dunes Country Club
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Receive your free KNPS Wildflower Poster
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Participate in the Silent Auction
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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. 30th, 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 ½ 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
Annual Wildflower Weekend pre-registration and meal choices
The KNPS Annual Wildflower Weekend is free and open to the public. You do not have to be a KNPS member to attend. Please let us know you are coming and what your meal choices are. This can be done by printing the following registration form:
The deadline for registration is September 11, 2007. If you have questions call 785-864-3453.
Mail the completed form with your check made out to Kansas Native Plant Society to:
Kansas Native Plant Society
R.L. McGregor Herbarium
2045 Constant Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66047-3729
