Friends of Konza Prairie

06/12/2026

Friends, please join us in recognizing Dr. John Blair, who retired last week after serving as Director of the Konza Prairie Biological Station since 2018. We are grateful for his dedication and support of the research station, Konza Environmental Education Program, and Friends of Konza Prairie 🌾🧡

Dr. Blair’s contributions have helped shape Konza Prairie into the internationally recognized research site it is today. As a grassland ecologist and University Distinguished Professor in the Division of Biology at Kansas State University, he has spent his career advancing our understanding of how fire, grazing, climate, and global change influence grassland ecosystems 🔥🦬

From serving as Lead Principal Investigator of the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program from 1999–2017 to his leadership as Director of KPBS, Dr. Blair has helped guide generations of scientists, students, and prairie stewards in discovering and protecting the ecological wonders of the tallgrass prairie 🔍🌼

With more than 140 journal articles and book chapters, and recognition as a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, his impact extends far beyond the Flint Hills.

Thank you, Dr. Blair, for your leadership 🌱 Congratulations on your retirement! 🎉👏

Photos by: Jill Haukos
Photo 1: Dr. Blair at Konza Prairie
Photo 2: Dr. Blair leading a group for our Wildflower Walk

06/10/2026

Thanks for joining us for the Wildflower Walk last Sunday, Kansas State University Department of Physics students!

🌻 Our National Science Foundation (NSF) REU students took a break from their research last weekend to explore the stunning Flint Hills on the Friends of Konza Prairie Wildflower Walk.

From vibrant native blooms to sweeping scenic vistas, it was the perfect way to connect with this incredible ecosystem.

Safe to say, our undergrad researchers now know exactly how to appreciate a perfect Sunday on the Konza Prairie Nature Trail - right here in beautiful Kansas, where the tallgrass meets the stars! 🌾✨

06/10/2026

What Is It Wednesday? 💜 🌿

This prairie wildflower is hard to miss when it's in bloom. Look for its large, tube-shaped flowers in shades of pink to lavender and its thick, smooth, opposite leaves on its single, tall, waxy stem 🐝

🌞It grows in sunny, open habitats and is especially common in prairies with sandy or rocky soils in eastern Kansas. It typically blooms May-July and can often be spotted growing along roadsides and prairie hillsides, including at the Konza Prairie Biological Station.

Know what this native wildflower is? Comment with your guess! 🙂‍↕️

Photos by: Michael Haddock
Information retrieved from: Kswildflower.org

06/07/2026

Our docents were out on Butterfly Hill Trail Friday evening to do a run-thru of the Wildflower Walk! Here’s a preview of the show in store for you this evening. There are 50+ species in bloom, you don’t want to miss it! 🌻🌸🌼🪻

This event is free for members, no RSVP required. Head towards the Konza Prairie Stone Barn. We’ll have folks assisting with parking.

We’ll get started at 6:30pm this evening, if you want to join the fully-guided hikes, please try to arrive around this time.
If you’d prefer a more self-guided hike, we’ll have docents stationed around the trail to provide wildflower info as you go. 🌸🥾

Everyone will receive a checklist of species you might see. You can check what you see as you go, and then upload it to iNaturalist. All of the submitted data will be used to inform scientists and researchers! 📝

Can’t wait to see you all out on the prairie! 🌾🌾

Photos by: Jessy Wilkes

06/06/2026

Happy National Prairie Day from Friends of Konza Prairie! We're so fortunate to live in one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world - the tallgrass prairie 🦬🌾

Grasslands are shrinking worldwide due to increasing conversion to crop fields or development. That's why our Friends are so important! Your membership as a Friend of Konza Prairie supports the work at Konza Environmental Education Program, connecting our K-12 students in the area to their home biome, and the maintenance of the Konza Prairie Nature Trail 💚

The perfect way to celebrate National Prairie Day is to get outside and smell the... common milkweed! Or whatever amazing prairie flower may be accessible to your noses. The Konza Prairie Nature Trail is open until sunset!

Our Wildflower Walk is TOMORROW at 6:30pm! Free to members, must be a member to come. No RSVPs required.
Become a member or renew here, also more details about the event: https://keep.konza.k-state.edu/fokp/

Photo by: Amy Smith Meng

06/05/2026

Only two more days until the Wildflower Walk, this Sunday June 7th!🪻 You won't want to miss the show the prairie has waiting for you!

06/04/2026

Prairie People Happy Hour is happening until 7pm!!

06/04/2026

It's the PERFECT day to bring your friends or family to the Prairie People Happy Hour TODAY from 5pm-7pm at the Flint Hills Discovery Center's Prairie Garden Terrace!! 💚💚💚

We are so thankful to Ancient Ocean Beef Co. for sponsoring the Prairie People Happy Hour! 🐂 Their family-operated ranch is rooted in the Flint Hills. They raise grass-fed and grass-finished cattle that enjoy native prairie pastures. You can make a reservation for a share of beef, shop online, find their products sold locally in Manhattan, or go to the Manhattan Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning to purchase from them directly! 🥕

Visit their website to learn more: https://ancientoceanbeef.com/

The Grateful Dudes will be performing for us, we'll have activities for kids, Manhattan Brewing Company will be selling drinks, and we'll have BRAND NEW FOKP Merch for sale 😎

We've got an eye on the weather, and if it's raining, we'll have the party inside! 🌧🌈

This event is FREE and we want you to bring your family and friends!! Let's grow our awesome community of people who support the Konza Environmental Education Program and the Konza Prairie Nature Trail! 🦬

06/03/2026

TOMORROW, Thursday June 4th, is FOKP's Prairie People Happy Hour starting at 5pm on the Flint Hills Discovery Center's Prairie Garden Terrace. We'll be crossing our fingers for sunshine, but if it rains, we'll move the party indoors! 😎

We're so thankful to our sponsor Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation for sponsoring the Prairie People Happy Hour this year! They're committed to advancing the wonderful work of the Flint Hills Discovery Center and bringing rich programming to the Flint Hills region. We're grateful to have their support 💜

See all you Prairie People tomorrow at happy hour!