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You might know that the Kansas state flower is the sunflower, but did you know that it is just one of hundreds of species of flowers that are native to the state?  Imagine an area covered in grass and colorful wildflowers, some of which grew to be over eight feet tall, like Big Bluestem grass and Compass Plant, along with the occasional tree.  This is what Kansas used to look like, and the sweeping prairies were home to animals like bison and elk as well as hundreds of species of pollinating insects.

We are fortunate to have a mix of two important habitats - wetlands and tallgrass prairie.  Both of these habitats are vital for our native pollinators and other wildlife.  Today, two of the biggest threats to these habitats are habitat loss and the introduction of invasive species.  In an effort to reintroduce more native species, we have collected thousands of seeds from 17 different species of native plants.  

What to do with all those seeds?  Come join us on Monday, January 15th for our Native Seed Project event, where we will show you how to sow seeds into a "milk jug greenhouse"!  Jars will be placed on a table, each with a card with an image of the plant it will grow into, and how the plant benefits our native wildlife.  Pick out a milk jug, put in some soil, and choose the type of seed you want to put into it.  It's that simple to do your part in helping to restore and protect our native habitats!  Then attend our follow-up Sow and Grow (part 2) on Monday, March 18th to see the results of your sown seeds!