The Flint Hills are dotted with an abundance of wildflowers this year due to the abundance of moisture for them to grow and the public will have a chance to view the wildflowers in the 15th annual Flint Hills Prairie Wildflower and Pasture Tour.
The tour will be broken up into two tours: one at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and one at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Participants can meet on Highway 177 at Matfield Green in front of the Burlington/Santa Fe office (old Matfield Green Post Office) or at the Cassoday Grade School in Cassoday. The school bus caravan will proceed off main roads with stops at pasture sites in Chase County.
Mike Holder, Chase County Extension Agent, has lined up Gary Kilgore, Kansas State University Extension Agronomist to be on the tour. Kilgore will identify plants and talk about their value in the ecosystem.
The Wildflower Educational Tour is sponsored by the Chase County Conservation District; Butler County Extension Service; and Chase County Extension Service. A donation is requested to help defray expenses.
Registration is required as the tours will be limited to 200 people at each session. Participants having reduced mobility needs may call for more information. To make reservations call the Chase County Extension Office at (620) 273-6491 or the Butler County Extension Office at (316) 321-9660.