Friends of Konza Prairie

08/26/2026

What Is It Wednesday?🌿

This native prairie plant is in the legume/pea family. It has upright, hairy stems and leaves divided into three leaflets. The leaflets are oblong in shape with net-like veins, rather than the linear veins and club-shaped leaflets of its unwanted, invasive cousin that is well-known to ranch owners across eastern Kansas.

Look for small, pale pink to white flowers packed into dense, rounded clusters on the upper part of the stems. Later in the season, it produces small, flat, single-seeded pods. This plant is palatable and nutritious for cattle, and the seeds provide food for grassland birds.

You can find this species growing in prairies and open areas at the Konza Prairie Biological Station.

Do you have a guess? Share it in the comments!

Photos by: Michael Haddock, information retrieved from kswildflower.org.

08/21/2026

We're so thankful for the Konza Environmental Education Program docents! Congratulations to the new docent class of 2026! And a HUGE thank you to experienced docents and to Jill Haukos and Monica Shaffer, Konza Environmental Education Program staff, for your contributions to this year's training! 🫶🌟🏆

Congratulations to the new Konza Prairie docent class of 2026!

We had a wonderful group hike of Shane Creek and Godwin Hill.

If you’re interested in becoming a Konza Prairie docent check back here in February when training is announced.

08/19/2026

What Is It Wednesday?🌾

We're switch-ing it up this week with a grass species! This tall, warm-season prairie grass can grow 2–7 feet tall. Look for flat, narrow leaves and an open, branching flower head that spreads outward near the top of the stem. The flower head can take on a reddish or purplish color as it matures 💜

One useful identification clue is at the base of the leaves, where you can find a small triangular patch of hairs. The leaf sheaths may also have reddish or purplish coloring near their base.

This native grass grows throughout Kansas, including in moist prairies and open areas at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, where you can find it in bloom right now! It is readily grazed by livestock when young, and its seeds and foliage provide food and cover for wildlife 🐂🦃

Any guesses? Share in the comments!

Photos by: Michael Haddock, information retrieved from: kswildflower.org

08/19/2026

In case you missed it, Jill Haukos, Director of Konza Environmental Education Program, was a guest on Within Reason with Mike Matson last week to discuss our home ecosystem, the Tallgrass Prairie, and the threats it faces. Check it out! 🎙️🌾🦋

It's called the "green glacier." Trees and other woody plants are taking over the prairie and the scientists at the Konza Prairie are ringing the alarm.

YouTube: youtube.com/
Audible: bit.ly/WithinReasonwithMikeMatson
Apple: bit.ly/WithinReasonwithMikeMatson-Apple
Spotify: bit.ly/WithinReasonwithMikeMatson-Spotify
News Radio KMAN: 1350kman.com/within-reason-with-mike-matson

08/18/2026

ARTISTS: Today, August 18th, is the final day to submit your artwork(s) for the Visions in the Flint Hills Art Benefit! 🎨🖌📸
50% of proceeds go back to the artist and the other 50% goes directly to FOKP for supporting the Konza Environmental Education Program! 🌼🦬

Calling all artists! There's still time to submit your artwork to our next show! Visions of the Flint Hills : An art benefit for Friends of Konza Prairie deadline is August 18th by 4pm!

08/12/2026

What Is It Wednesday? 💜

This late-summer prairie wildflower is easy to spot by its tall, slender stem topped with clusters of purple flowers. The flower heads are rounded and button-like, with each head made up of many small flowers.

The plant can vary quite a bit; it can have a single stem or many unbranched stems, the stems may have short hairs or be smooth, and the leaves sometimes have sticky (resin-forming) dots on them. The flower heads are spaced along the upper portion of the stem rather than forming one continuous cluster.

You can find this native plant growing in prairies and open, sunny areas in the east half of Kansas including at the Konza Prairie Biological Station ☀

You all have been on a roll identifying these plants this growing season! Can you guess this native plant species too? Share your guess in the comments!

Photos by: Michael Haddock, information retrieved from: kswildflower.org

08/05/2026

What Is It Wednesday? 💛🌿

This native prairie wildflower is easy to recognize by its bright yellow, five-petaled flowers and rows of small leaflets that give each leaf a feather-like appearance. If you gently touch the leaves, they may fold together 👉

You can find it blooming in late summer across most of Kansas in open prairies and other sunny habitats, including at the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Its flowers are an important nectar source for bees and butterflies, and the seeds provide food for birds such as bobwhite quail 🦃🐝As a member of the pea family, it produces long, narrow seed pods after blooming.

Any guesses? Share them in the comments!

Photos by: Michael Haddock, information retrieved from: kswildflower.org

07/29/2026

Artists - August 18th @ 4pm is your deadline to submit your work to Buttonwood Art Space for this year's Visions of the Flint Hills Art Show!

Calling all artists! There's still time to submit your artwork to our next show! Visions of the Flint Hills : An art benefit for Friends of Konza Prairie deadline is August 18th by 4pm!

07/29/2026

What Is It Wednesday? ❔🌿

This native prairie wildflower is easiest to recognize by the bright white edges that surround its upper leaves, making it look as though the plant has been dusted with snow. It typically has a single hairy stem, with simple, alternate leaves and tiny flowers ❄

It grows throughout Kansas in dry prairies, roadsides, and other open, sunny habitats. Like other members of its family, it contains a milky white sap that can irritate the skin if handled similar to Poison Ivy 🛑

Know what it is? Share your guess in the comments!

Photos by: Michael Haddock, information retrieved from: Kswildflower.org

07/22/2026

What Is It Wednesday? 💛🌿

This tall perennial can reach heights of 10 feet or more, making it one of the most recognizable species on the prairie. In mid to late summer, it produces bright yellow, sunflower-like blooms that climb up their sturdy stems 🌻

Look for its large, rough leaves that are deeply divided into narrow lobes, giving them a distinctive appearance. One of its most unique features is that its leaves often orient themselves north to south, a trait that inspired one of its common names 🧭

You can find this native species growing in tallgrass prairies, including at the Konza Prairie Biological Station. It is typically found in ungrazed areas, livestock really enjoy eating this plant! 🐂

Know what it is? Share your guesses in the comments!

Photos by: Michael Haddock, information retrieved from: Kswildflower.org