In the small burg of Manhattan, KS, about 10 miles north of I-70, Joani found the very nice Flint Hill Discovery Center (ASTC members, so again, free). It certainly appeared to be no more than a few years old.
The exhibits explained the influence man had on the tall grass prairies that once spanned many of today's mid-western states. Tall prairie grasses are different from other grasses. They are hardier and benefit from grazing and even fires. Fires inhibit the growth of trees that would take over the landscape in a few hundred years. Native Americans would burn the grass to herd bison and ranchers found that after burning the grasses grew back faster and stronger than before.
The floor below showed the extent of the tall grass prairies today - a swath through Kansas and a little in Oklahoma and Texas. A few hundred years ago the tall grasses covered much of the central part of the country from Chicago to the Rockies and from Texas to Canada.
A display showing the depth of roots that different grasses have.
When you reached the third floor there was a nice outdoor terrace with a view of much of Manhattan. It would have been a bit nicer without the 100-degree temperature or maybe with a little bit of shade.
The terrace was planted with an array of plants native to the area, many of which were in bloom. A walkway and stairs led us through the flowers and shrubs back to the ground level. We had learned enough about the prairie for the day so we found a Chili's for lunch and then headed back to Sam.
Echinacea angustifolia, Purple coneflower
Eryngium yuccifolium, Button snakeroot
Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly milkweed
Monarda fistulose, Wild bergamot
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