Wildflowers are an important part of any region's identity. Nebraska Wildflower Week celebrates this "sense of place" through wildflower-related events and activities the first week in June, when many of Nebraska's prairies and gardens are at their prime.
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum serves as coordinator for Wildflower Week activities, bringing together organizations and individuals across the state that recognize the value of wildflowers, not only for their beauty but also for what they imply and symbolize.
"Where wildflowers are thriving, it is a sign that the environment is healthy," said Bob Henrickson, arboretum assistant director whose nursery production work with the arboretum concentrates on native and regionally appropriate plants. Opportunities for wildflower enthusiasts across the state include guided tours, presentations on wildflower plantings, exhibits, prairie runs and more.
Events, photos and more information will be continually updated at arboretum.unl.edu/wildflower.
2014 Wildflower Week Events
May 30-June 8 near Harrison. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument "Wildflower Walks" every morning at 10 as staffing permits, June 1 and 8 "Wildflower Talk" at 2 p.m. in the visitor center followed by a walk (22 miles south of Harrison or 34 miles north of Mitchell, NE on state highway 29, 3 miles east on River Road). 308-668-2211 or 308-436-9760, agfo_ranger_activities@nps.gov, http://www.nps.gov/agfo
May 30-June 8 in Beatrice. Beatrice Public Library Arboretum will have a display of books and information on wildflowers plus small packets of assorted wildflower seeds and ornamental grasses as giveaways in conjunction with a free seed collection library started in March. With the help of Master Gardeners and others, more than 2,000 packets of seeds have been given away. 402-239-4781, http://www.beatrice.ne.gov/library/
May 30-June 8 near Burwell. Calamus Outfitters "Sandhills Safari Jeep Tours" daily 8-8. Directions to location at http://www.calamusoutfitters.com. 308-346-4697, hbswitzer@nctc.net
May 31 near Ceresco. "Darby Springs Farm Prairie Walk through the Saline Wetlands of Saunders County," starting at 8 and occurring throughout the day, sponsored by Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society (414 County Road 15, 3 miles east of Ceresco). 402-525-7794, healthyfarms@gmail.com
June 1 in Bellevue. "Family Sundays in the Forest – Wildflower Walk" from 1-3 p.m. at Fontenelle Forest. 402-731-3140, info@fontenelleforest.org, fontenelleforest.org
June 1 near Denton. "Spring Creek Prairie Wildflower Walk" – see and learn about native plants with botanist Kay Kottas from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (11700 SW 100th St, three miles south of Denton). 402-797-2301, SCP@audubon.org, http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org/public-programs.
June 3 in Lincoln. "Jazz in June" tour of perennial gardens at UNL Botanical Gardens & Arboretum city campus at 6 p.m. led by Park Planner and Garden Designer Mark Canney, with a focus on attracting pollinators, incorporating native plants and extending bloom period and seasonal interest. 402-472-1229, susan.budler@unl.edu, http://www.jazzinjune.com
June 4 in Wayne. "Gardening with Prairie Plants" presentation and tour of the Wayne State College campus from 6:30-8 p.m. (meet in Parking Lot 6). 402-375-7384, kischra1@wsc.edu
June 5 in Lincoln. "Wildflowers that Knock Our Socks off" brown bag at 12 and again at 6 p.m. at UNL East Campus Keim Hall; sponsored by NSA with Friends of Maxwell Arboretum and UNL Garden Friends. (First in a series to be held the first Thursday of every month.) 402-472-2971, arboretum@unl.edu, http://arboretum.unl.edu/
June 5-7 near Red Cloud. "Wildflower Walk" June 7 at 2 p.m. and the 2014 Willa Cather Conference, "Mapping Literary Landscapes: Environments and Ecosystems," June 5-7. 866-731-7304, ttucker@willacather.org, http://www.willacather.org.
June 6 in Lincoln. Opening for the "Modern Marvels" exhibition, depicting dogwood, poppies, tulips, daisies and asters, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the International Quilt Study Center & Museum. The gardens, featuring native Nebraska plants and designed with quilts in mind, are open all week. 402-472-6549, iqsc@unl.edu, http://www.quiltstudy.org/
June 7 near Marquette. "Griffith Prairie Fun Run" sponsored by Prairie Plains Resource Institute. Walk or run the 5K or 10K course with native prairie wildflowers in bloom. Check-in at 8:30 for 9 a.m. run (Nebraska Highway 14 to Marquette corner, 4 miles west on 22 Road, 0.5 north on M Road). 402-694-5535, amyppri@hamilton.net, http://www.prairieplains.org
June 7 in Lincoln. "Wildflower Tour and Sale" hosted by Nebraska Statewide Arboretum from 9 till noon (display garden and greenhouses south of UNL east campus north entrance at 38th and Leighton). 402-472-2971, rhenrickson1@unl.edu, arboretum.unl.edu/plant-sales
June 7 near Wood River. "Platte River Prairies Volunteer Work Day" sponsored by The Nature Conservancy. Bring gloves to help with seed harvesting, native plant nursery work and invasive species control at Platte Prairies from 9 to noon (from Exit 300 on I-80, take State Hwy. 11 south/southeast about 2 miles; as it curves sharply east, go south on Platte River Dr. to 13650 South Platte River Dr.). 402-694-4191, mjasnowski@tnc.org, http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/nebraska/volunteer/index.htm
June 7 in Omaha. "Pollination Ramble" at Lauritzen Gardens at 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. Celebrate Nebraska Wildflower Week by exploring the amazing world of pollination and hearing stories about pollinators on walking tour through the gardens led by director of conservation Jim Locklear. Free to members or with garden admission. Advance registration requested. 402-346-4002 ext. 263, http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8QVYRZP
June 7 near Ceresco. "Darby Springs Farm Prairie Walk through the Saline Wetlands of Saunders County," starting at 8 and occurring throughout the day, sponsored by Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society (414 County Road 15, 3 miles east of Ceresco). 402-525-7794, healthyfarms@gmail.com
June 8 near Unadilla. "Visit a Native Prairie" with Wachiska Audubon representatives from 1-3 p.m. at Dieken Prairie (1.5 miles south on Rd 20 from northwest corner of intersection of Unadilla and NE 02/Rd 20; then .75 miles west on Rd I; prairie located on northwest corner of northwest quarter section). arnold.mendenhall@gmail.com
June 8 near Stanton. "Summer Wildcraft Walk & Harvest" by Rachel Liester, herbalist at Red Road Herbs, from 1-3 p.m. Guided walk to identify wild herbs with discussion on their uses as food and medicine. Wild herb tea and sample foods served. Price and pre-registration at http://www.redroadherbs.com 402-640-0744
June 10 in Lincoln. "Jazz in June" tour of perennial gardens at UNL Botanical Gardens & Arboretum city campus at 6 p.m. 402-472-1229, susan.budler@unl.edu, http://www.jazzinjune.com
June 10 in Omaha. "Tempo of Twilight" summer series blends music and nature, featuring The Brits June 10 from 6-8 p.m. at Lauritzen Gardens. Free to members or included with paid garden admission. For this Tuesday night concert series, guests are allowed to bring chairs, food and beverages; and the café offers an abbreviated menu. http://www.lauritzengardens.org/Visit/Events_and_Exhibits/Tempo_of_Twilight/