Legends of the Fall .... Wildflowers

     About 80 members of the Kansas Native Plant Society (KNPS) and others met in Pratt this weekend and enjoyed the fall bloom in the Red Hills along with the local sand prairies.  A membership of over 800 native plant enthusiasts, the KNPS gets high on wildflowers as well as the native grasses.  No, not like the kind of experiment being practiced in our neighboring state to the west.  These folks are true aficionados of nature.  The KNPS promotes sound conservation to promote native plants.  As part of the festivities, there were educational presentations at Pratt Community College where they met, and excursions to five prairie sites in Barber, Kiowa and Pratt counties.  There was also a special recognition of the Pratt County Master Gardeners at the native plant garden at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Wildlife Education Exhibit and Museum.  All-in-all it was a fine weekend.  Here are some of the special sights and rewards of the weekend:

Members of the KNPS and other attendees spread out in the Red Hills to identify and enjoy native plants and wildflower legends of the fall.

Sand Lily is the showiest fall flower of the Red Hills.  This flower opens late in the day and was a particularly special treat for the KNPS prairie enthusiasts.

Craig Freeman, Senior Scientist with the Ks. Biological Survey, (left) was on hand to share expertise with participants.

Jeff Hansen admires a whole hillside of White-flower Ipomopsis, a rare sight. 

A Carpenter Bee enjoys nectar from a White Flower Ipomopsis bloom.

Lee Ann stands among very healthy Little Bluestem, the official state grass of Kansas.  Because of excellent summer rains, the Red Hills prairies are as robust as ever and rebounding from three years of drought conditions.

                               

Demonstrating that fall beauty in Kansas prairies can be found even beyond the late-blooming flowers, Prickly Pear Cactus fruits stand out as beautiful adornments. 

Dotted Gayfeather is one of the prettiest of the fall bloomers in the Red Hills and other prairies and roadsides in Kansas.  It was very prevalent at the field trip sites.  

What did you say that plant was?!  Phyllis Scherich is the next President of the KNPS and was the primary leader and organizer for this event.  Thanks Phyllis!