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Thursday, June 10, 2010

Kansas Native Plant Appreciation

Governor Mark Parkinson has proclaimed June 2010 as Kansas Native Plant Appreciation Month! The Governor's proclamation urges all citizens to join in the observance by enjoying, appreciating, and celebrating our floral diversity and taking advantage of the opportunities to learn more about native plants, their habitats, and how to protect them.

Discover recommended newer and older classic nonfiction books about native plants in Kansas and the larger region. In addition to the titles listed below, more resources on identification of and gardening with native plants and wildflowers, uses of native plants and prairie ecology may be found by searching in the library catalog.

Kansas Native Plant Society is celebrating Kansas Native Plant Appreciation Month with many different free events. Everyone is welcome to enjoy these opportunities to discover our state's natural heritage. You may also want to view this website for resources on native plant identification, wildflower gardening, natural areas to visit, book recommendations, and more.

The following 32 books represent some aspect of native plants in our area. Note: When our catalog doesn’t offer additional information, an Internet link may be included where you may access more information about a book. Click on the titles to view and reserve these books in the catalog.

Wildflowers and Weeds of Kansas
by Janet E. Bare

This thorough resource aids identification for many different plants found in the state.

Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines: A Guide To Using, Growing, And Propagating North American Woody Plants
by William Cullina

Cullina's book is like an encyclopedia. He presents strong opinions about each plant, which makes this resource helpful for selecting the best plants for landscaping.

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The New England Wild Flower Society Guide To Growing And Propagating Wildflowers Of The United States
by William Cullina

The author has much experience landscaping with native plants. He offers recommendations for the most attractive garden plants.

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Weed Seeds of the Great Plains: A Handbook for Identification
by Linda W. Davis

Seeds of native and introduced plants are illustrated and described.

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Roadside Wildflowers of the Southern Great Plains
by Craig Carl Freeman & Eileen K. Schofield

This informative field guide describes common wildflowers found in Kansas or near the border in neighboring states. Many of the highlighted plants include line drawings of unique identifying features and notes of historical medicinal or food uses, and related species.

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Flora of the Great Plains
by Great Plains Flora Association

The most complete botanical guide to native and naturalized plants in the Great Plains, including Kansas. It contains technical keys and descriptions and lacks illustrations.

Walking the Prairie
by Doug Guess

Watercolor paintings of wildflowers are paired with poetry.

Wildflowers and Grasses of Kansas: A Field Guide
by Michael John Haddock

Helpful comments are included with each plant description. The author created a website, with many forbs, grasses, sedges, rushes, and woody plants found growing in Kansas: www.kswildflower.org.

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Field Guide to the North American Prairie
by Stephen R. Jones and Ruth Carol Cushman

Use this guide to learn about different types of prairie habitats and the flora and fauna of North American prairies. A directory offers recommended places to visit.

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Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide
by Kelly Kindscher

Kindscher shares his own experiences preparing and eating wild foods coupled with historical uses. Beautiful line drawings and range maps are provided for each plant.

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Medicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide
by Kelly Kindscher

Historical uses of wild plants as medicine are recounted with range maps and beautiful line drawings for each plant.

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A Field Guide to Eastern Forests, North America
by John Kricher

Bring this guide along next time you visit a forest and identify some of the plants and wildlife.

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A Practical Guide to Prairie Reconstruction
by Carl Kurtz

Learn how to select seeds, prepare the soil, manage prairies and more.

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Ozark Wildflowers: A Field Guide
by Don Kurz

This guide will aid anyone who wants to identify wildflowers while visiting the southeast corner of Kansas; this is part of the Ozark physiographic region.

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Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Wildflowers, Grasses, and Woody Vines of the Tallgrass Prairie
by Douglas M. Ladd

This book is a helpful identification tool with excellent photography. This second edition includes notes about prairie restoration techniques and an updated directory of tallgrass prairies to visit.

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Grassland: The History, Biology, Politics, and Promise of the American Prairie
by Richard Manning

Manning's dramatic prose describes the troubled history that brought about the loss of one of our most symbolic landscapes and recent attempts at restoration.

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Where the Buffalo Roam
by Anne Matthews

Frank and Deborah Popper's proposal to return the arid western Great Plains to bison and a wildlife refuge is explained in this book.

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The National Grasslands: A Guide to America's Undiscovered Treasures
by Francis Moul

Among the fascinating history and politics described here is much information about Cimarron National Grassland in southwest Kansas.

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Common to This Country: Botanical Discoveries of Lewis and Clark
by Susan H. Munger

Specific plants are featured and beautifully illustrated with wonderful details of when Lewis and Clark were first introduced to each plant.

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Kansas Grasses
by Clenton E. Owensby

Detailed line drawings are included with each featured grass. The author created a website for Kansas grasses: http://spuds.agron.ksu.edu/Grassint.htm.

Kansas Prairie Wildflowers
by Clenton E. Owensby

This small book is a classic reference with color photos. The author created a website for flowers found in the Flint Hills: http://spuds.agron.ksu.edu/wildflw.htm.

Sunflowers: The Secret History; The Unauthorized Biography of the World's Most Beloved Weed
by Joe Pappalardo

This enjoyable read delves deeply into world cultural history as reflected in sunflowers.

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Pasture & Range Plants
by Robert A. Nicholson

This beautifully illustrated guide provides helpful information on forage use for livestock.

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Konza Prairie: A Tallgrass Natural History
by O. J. Reichman

Explore the ecology of one of the largest remaining tallgrass prairie habitats in the country.

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Dyes from American Native Plants: A Practical Guide
by Lynne Richards & Ronald J. Tyrl

Learn dyeing techniques using the plethora of natural colors obtainable from native plants.

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The Secrets of Wildflowers: A Delightful Feast of Little-Known Facts, Folklore, and History
by Jack Sanders

Delve into the fascinating history and legends behind many different wildflowers, including their uses and the origins of their names.

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Prairie: A Natural History
by Candace Savage

Savage provides a perspective of the natural heritage we have lost. Prairie once covered more of North America than any other type of ecosystem. Breathtaking photos and dramatic text describe what remains and offer an outlook for the future.

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Poisonous Plants of the Central United States
by H.A. (Homer A.) Stephens

Stephens provides plant descriptions and symptoms of poisoning, accompanied by clear black and white photos.

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Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines in Kansas
by H. A. (Homer A.) Stephens

This classic field guide includes range maps and photos of bark, leaves, and fruits.

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Gardening With Prairie Plants: How To Create Beautiful Native Landscapes
by Sally Wasowski

Native plant gardening inspiration from a very experienced prairie gardener.

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Wild Seasons: Gathering and Cooking Wild Plants of the Great Plains
by Kay Young

Use this book as a field guide and recipe book for the best tasting wild edibles.

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Land of Grass and Sky: A Naturalist's Prairie Journey
by Mary Taylor Young

Young shares personal essays evoking the spirit of various elements of the prairie.

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Like the books listed here? Our post honoring the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day contains many related titles.