2008 Wildflower Weekend

Information

2008 Itinerary, Hotel options, and Registration Form

The Annual Wildflower Weekend (AWW) of the Kansas Native Plant Society will take place in Hays, Kansas on October 3-5, 2008.

The theme this year is “Ethnobotany – cultural uses of native plants”.  

Highlights of the weekend include:

  • Receive your free KNPS Wildflower Poster
  • Participate in the Silent Auction
  • Participate in the Photo Contest
  • Tour three sites

Tour site 1 (Friday)
Private Ranch: Site of Echinacea study

Tour site 2 (Saturday)
Ft Hays State University Field Station property

Tour site 3 (Sunday)
Wilson Reservoir – Lucas Park - Rocktown Natural Area
http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/wi/History.cfm

Rocktown Natural Area is a 305 acre site located on the western boundary of Lucas Park. In August, 1986 it was designated a Natural and Scientific Area by the Kansas Biological Survey. Although the most obvious feature of Rocktown is the 15-30 foot high sandstone pillars that dominate the landscape, it is the unusual mix of prairie plant species associated with the shallow, sandy soils of the Sandhills that paramount natural significance. The soils in the area are not typical of this region of Kansas. Dakota sandstone and limestone outcrops are common. Plant species of interest include Fremont’s clematis, Fremont evening primrose, shortstem spiderwort, blue funnel lily, Buckley’s penstemon, fameflower, prairie sandreed, and Maryland senna. Although of interest, these species are not sufficiently rare or unusual enough to require monitoring by the Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory. Rocktown is, however, a significant state resource.