KU Field Station

06/17/2026

Join us for an evening of plants, stories, science, and sunset views! 🌻☀️🐝

The annual summer solstice tour of the 𝗞𝗨 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 is happening this Sunday. Kelly Kindscher, senior scientist at the Kansas Bio Survey & Center for Ecological Researchand professor in the KU Environmental Studies Program, will lead a guided walk through the garden's collection of native medicinal plants. Learn about their traditional uses, ecological importance, and the research helping us better understand these prairie species.

The guided tour lasts about an hour, but you're welcome to stay afterward to chat, explore the gardens, and enjoy the sunset just before 9 p.m.

📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Sunday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m.

📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: 1865 E. 1600 Road, Lawrence, KS 66044

☕ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: Comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and a lawn chair if you wish.

📧 𝗡𝗼 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱. Questions? Contact Kelly Kindscher at [email protected].

⛅ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳-𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦: https://www.facebook.com/share/18jgSH6QXF/

06/11/2026

𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Rooted in the Prairie: What the Grassland Teaches Us About Ourselves 🌾🌻

The tallgrass prairie is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood ecosystems in North America. Yet, it holds profound lessons about resilience, adaptation, and belonging. Becky Harpstrite, a Lawrence-based creator and self-proclaimed prairie nerd, spent a year photographing Douglas County's native prairies across all four seasons. She is the photographer, designer, and co-creator of 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘦. Join Becky as she shares a mix of grassland science, personal reflection, and hands-on journaling that will change how you see the landscape right outside your door.

📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Sunday, June 21 at 2:00 p.m.

📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: KU Field Station, Armitage Education Center, 350 Wild Horse Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

☕ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: A mug for tea/coffee to help us reduce waste.

📧 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 to Wendy ([email protected]) as space is limited. It also helps us plan for seating and snacks! 🍪

𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘜 𝘍𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥!

05/28/2026

Topeka shiners and sunshine ☀️🐟

Did you know Topeka shiners sneak their eggs into sunfish nests and leave the protective male sunfish to guard both sets of eggs. Work smarter, not harder!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Science Sundays over the holiday weekend!

05/26/2026

Blooming along the Rice Woodland Trail 💜

Purple milkweed (𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴) is a less common native species that stands out for thriving in partial shade, often tucked along the margins where prairie meets woodland. Its blooms provide nectar for pollinators, and its leaves support monarch caterpillars.

Once the blooms fade, it’s easy to miss, so now is a great time to get out and explore!

05/21/2026

✨ Come learn about this federally endangered species with us! ✨

𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Topeka Shiners 🐟🌾💧

What can native fish tell us about the health of our water, our land, and our communities? Join Keith Gido, Kansas State University Distinguished Professor, to learn how conserving native fish matters to all of us, using the Topeka Shiner as our guide.

This little fish's decline, now listed as a federally endangered species, reflects broader environmental changes happening right in our backyard. The good news is that researchers have developed some novel ideas on what can be done to help this fish. A partial solution could involve leveraging one of the factors that has led to their decline: farm ponds.

📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m.

📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: KU Field Station, Armitage Education Center, 350 Wild Horse Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

☕ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: A mug for tea/coffee to help us reduce waste.

📧 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 to Wendy ([email protected]) as space is limited. It also helps us plan for seating and snacks! 🍪

𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘜 𝘍𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥!

05/19/2026

🎉🌲 The People’s Choice Award was a four-way tie! Congratulations to Dave, Tom, Calli, and John for winning with their entries in 𝘈𝘯 𝘖𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘳!

The exhibit sparked a lot of excitement, and visitors shared how much they enjoyed the creativity and diversity of the nearly 60 works on display.

This is the last week to see the show before it closes on Saturday, May 23!

🕒 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀: Wed–Fri: 1–5 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m.–Noon
📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Lumberyard Arts Center, 718 High St, Baldwin City

If you stop by on Saturday, you may even get a chance to meet some of the nearly 60 artists featured in the exhibition! 🎨

✨ Thank you to everyone who helped make 𝘈𝘯 𝘖𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘳 such a success! ✨

Lumberyard Arts Center Kansas Forestry Association Kansas Forest Service Douglas County Conservation District KU Department of Visual Art

We are excited to announce a four-way tie for the Ode to Eastern Redcedar People's Choice Award. Thank you to the Kansas Forestry Association for sponsoring this award:
🌟 David Baldwin
🌟 Tom Boley
🌟 Calli Priner
🌟 John Vesecky

LAST WEEK to catch the show before it closes on Saturday, May 23rd, 10 am -12 pm. You may even get to meet some of the nearly 60 artists who were featured if you stop in Saturday. Can't make it Saturday? We are open Wednesday - Friday, 1-5 pm.

05/16/2026

Do you love native plants, getting your hands dirty, and chatting with like-minded folks? 🌿

Join volunteers at the KU Native Medicinal Plant Research Garden to help care for the demonstration gardens! These gardens showcase the beauty of native plants in landscape settings while supporting research and education.

On Thursday evenings in May and June, we’ll spend time weeding, mulching, and transplanting native plants that have happily outgrown their beds. Some plants may even find a new home in your own garden!

💚 Come for an evening of native plants, good conversation, and community connection.

🌱 All experience levels are welcome
🌱 Leaders will be on-site to provide guidance
🌱 Water, tools, and a porta-potty will be available

📅 When: Thursdays from 5:30–7:30 p.m.

📍 Where: KU Native Medicinal Plant Research Garden

👒 What to bring: Gardening gloves and a favorite weeding tool (we’ll also have tools to share!)

💌 Questions? Contact Trina Williams at [email protected]

05/12/2026

Spider milkweed (𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘴) always steals the show 🐛🌼🐝

05/11/2026

This orchid can live for decades, and it takes up to 17 years before the first bloom appears! 🌼🌿✨

That countdown begins underground at a microscopic scale. Yellow lady’s-slippers (𝘊𝘺𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮) start life as dust-like seeds with no stored nutrients to help them grow. To germinate, they depend on a mycorrhizal relationship with fungi, which break open the seeds and supply the developing embryos with sugars and nutrients. This hidden partnership can take years before a single leaf ever breaks through the soil.

When it reaches maturity, the flower becomes a carefully structured trap. Its color and fragrance lure small native bees into the pouch-shaped bloom in search of nectar. But there is no nectar to be found, only smooth walls and a very deliberate exit route. 🐝

To escape, the bee must crawl through a narrow pathway that forces a precise sequence of contact. The bee first brushes past the sticky stigma, depositing any pollen it was already carrying, then squeezes beneath a set of anthers where it gets a fresh dusting of pollen before reaching the small exit hole.

Because there is no nectar reward, many bees quickly learn to avoid these flowers, making pollination infrequent. Even so, yellow lady’s-slippers persist not only through seed, but also as underground rhizomes slowly spread and expand existing plants, even when reproduction is rare.

🍃 Many orchid species are declining, and sadly, their beauty is one of the reasons. Yellow lady’s-slippers have a deeply symbiotic relationship with the places where they grow and almost never survive being transplanted. If you’re lucky enough to encounter one, please resist the urge to pick it or try to move it to your home garden. Once a population has been lost, it will not return, so it is best to appreciate their blooms in the woodlands where they belong.

05/06/2026

𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Topeka Shiners 🐟🌾💧

What can native fish tell us about the health of our water, our land, and our communities? Join Keith Gido, Kansas State University Distinguished Professor, to learn how conserving native fish matters to all of us, using the Topeka Shiner as our guide.

This little fish's decline, now listed as a federally endangered species, reflects broader environmental changes happening right in our backyard. The good news is that researchers have developed some novel ideas on what can be done to help this fish. A partial solution could involve leveraging one of the factors that has led to their decline: farm ponds.

📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m.

📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: KU Field Station, Armitage Education Center, 350 Wild Horse Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

☕ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: A mug for tea/coffee to help us reduce waste.

📧 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 to Wendy ([email protected]) as space is limited. It also helps us plan for seating and snacks! 🍪

𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘜 𝘍𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥!