IANR News: Wildflower Week Events Celebrated Statewide

LINCOLN, Neb. — Inspired by a similar national event, Nebraska Wildflower Week is a celebration of wildflowers and native plants in the wild and in the landscape through an array of events and activities across Nebraska in early June.

Wildflowers can give even small gardens a strong sense of place, said Justin Evertson, director of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, which coordinates activities. "I know a cattle rancher in western Nebraska who fences off and preserves native larkspur in his pastures even though it's poisonous to cattle. It would be easier and more profitable for him to just get rid of it. Such is the spell a beautiful wildflower can cast."

Opportunities for wildflower enthusiasts across the state include wildflower walks in or near Albion, Marquette, Hampton, Harrison, Kimball, Lincoln and Omaha; botanical print displays; a scavenger hunt for families in Lincoln; and hands-on wildflower activities for children in Gretna and Omaha.

Events and more information at Wildflowers

May 30 near Ashland . Guided Wildflower Walks at Mahoney State Park starting at 11 a.m. from Owen Marina parking lot. (402) 944-2523 extension 7122

May 30-June 7 near Harrison . Guided Walks twice daily at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, weather and staff permitting. Over 4 miles of trails with plant signage and herbarium in visitor center. (308) 668-2211 or (308) 436-9772

May 30-31 in Lincoln . Pioneers Park Nature Center display of "Flora of Nebraska" botanical prints in the Prairie Building. (402) 441-8708

June 2 near Hampton . Wildflower Walk at 7 p.m. at Marie Ratzlaff Prairie Preserve (5.5 miles south of I-80 Hampton Exit 338. (402) 694-5535

June 2 at Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens . Make a living wreath to hang or use as a centerpiece. Register by May 25, $35. (402) 346-4002, extension 201

June 2 in Lincoln . UNL Botanical Gardens and Arboretum Tour and Scavenger Hunt in Love Garden. Meet at 6 p.m. east of Sheldon Museum of Art – for families, including children. Jazz in June follows at 7 p.m. (402) 472-2679

June 3 near Ashland . Guided Wildflower Walks at Mahoney State Park starting at 11 a.m. from Owen Marina parking lot. (402) 944-2523, extension 7122

June 3-30 in Fremont . Midland Lutheran College display of "Flora of Nebraska" botanical prints.

June 4 Wildflower walk at Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens at 10 a.m. (402) 346-4002, extension 201

June 6 "Nature Detectives" at Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens from 2-4 p.m. Children will learn to identify wildflowers and sketch their favorites. Register by May 31, $13. (402) 346-4002, extension 201

June 6 in Lincoln . Nebraska Statewide Arboretum sale of wildflowers and other native and hardy plants, trees, grasses and shrubs, and tour of display gardens, near 38th and Leighton. (402) 472-2971

June 6 near Unadilla . Wachiska Audubon Society tour of Dieken Prairie from 1-4 p.m. (1 mile south and 3/4 mile west of Unadilla). (402) 525-4884

June 6 near Marquette . Wildflower Walk at 9 a.m. at Griffith Prairie, 4 miles west then .5 mile north from Highway 14 Marquette turnoff. (402) 694-5535

June 7 near Albion . Wildflower Walk at 2:30 p.m. at Olson Nature Preserve, 8 miles north of Albion on Highway 14, left on Y Road and 1 mile to gate. (402) 694-5535

June 7 near Ashland . Guided Wildflower Walks at Mahoney State Park starting at 11 a.m. from Owen Marina parking lot. (402) 944-2523 extension 7122

June 7 Rose Show at Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens from 1:30-4 p.m. (402) 346-4002, extension 201

June 13 near Gretna . Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center "A Day in the Garden" for K-6 from 8:30am to 4 p.m. Explore nature's secrets with hands-on activities and a walk in the woods. (402) 332-4496

June 13 in Omaha . Lauritzen Gardens "Wild about Wildflowers" activities for children 5-12 with one adult from 10-11:30 a.m. Register by June 6, $26. (402) 346-4002, extension 201

May 30 near Kimball . Western Trails Wagons and Wildflowers Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at EJE Ranch, about 3 miles south and 2 miles west of Kimball. Hike or take horse and carriage rides from Diamond T Ranch. Free, chuckwagon available, cash donations. (308) 241-0878

June 6 near Kimball . 7 a.m.-noon "Iron American Flower Power Prairie" 5k Hike/Run, t-shirts & prizes at EJE Ranch, about 3 miles south and 2 miles west of Kimball.

June 6 near Kimball . "Wildflower Moongazing" from Kimball stoplight drive 5 miles south on Hwy. 71 to Cty. Rd. 24 and go west 1.5 miles to pasture entrance and park near corrals. Short wildflower tour at 7 p.m., full moon rises over prairie at 8 p.m., sun sets about 9 p.m. Gather by chuckwagon campfire for s'mores and other refreshments and watch moon rise from warm glow of prairie sunset. Free, cash donations, (308) 241-0878.

Justin Evertson
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
Assistant Director for Community Programs
(402) 472-5054

Karma Larsen
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
Communications Associate
(402) 472-2971

Dan Moser
IANR News & Photography Coordinator
(402) 472-3007

Department:
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum