Rare plants, birds, and rock formations on the list of possible sightings
LAWRENCE — On June 20, the public is invited to enjoy the Fourth Biennial Coblentz Prairie Foray at 1 p.m. at Clinton Wildlife Area, near Lawrence. The event is an opportunity to explore the diverse native plants and uncommon birds of the glaciated tallgrass prairie near Lawrence.

Sponsored by the Kansas Native Plant Society (KNPS), the event will be led by experts on the fauna and flora of the region. Commonly-sighted species during this event include Henslow's sparrows and golden byssus skippers (a butterfly). Sponsors hope to find rarer species, such as the federally-protected Mead’s milkweed, prairie phlox, starry catchfly, Topeka purple-coneflower, and tall cinquefoil. Other plants of interest include the Adder’s tongue fern — one of the few prairie ferns — and cluster fescue, a fescue grass rarely found in Kansas.

Interesting rocks such as Sioux quartzite may also be found. This area may be the farthest south glaciers advanced in Kansas, and large pink and red Sioux quartzite boulders can be found.

Co-leaders of the event are KNPS board members Jeff Hansen and Shirley Braunlich. Coblentz Prairie is 40 minutes west of Lawrence in westcentral Douglas County at the intersection of East 1 Road and North 1150th Road. It is part of Clinton Wildlife Area, managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Participants are asked to meet one-half mile east of the intersection on the south side of North 1150th Road.

For more information, email email@KSNPS.org, phone 785-864-3453, or visit the KNPS website at www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org.
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