Tallgrass Prairie Facts
Prairie arose in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains, and once covered 400 million acres over the center of the U.S. from Saskatchewan to Texas. Prairies are diverse communities dominated by grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairie, with three-fourths of its biomass
underground, created some of the most productive
soils in the world. Prairie thrives amid drought, fire,
and grazing due to root systems up to 15 feet deep.
Only 1% of the native tallgrass prairie remains today due to fire suppression and intensive crop production, making it a globally endangered ecosystem. Remaining prairies now include the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma and small remnant prairies, such as The Prairie Center in Olathe, Kansas and GHF's Snyder Prairie, Leadplant Prairie, and Roulund-Wagner Prairie.
Only 1% of the native tallgrass prairie remains today. . .
News
Read about the successful Native Plant Sale held at Emporia State's PAROC on Saturday, May 17.
GHF, KU's Kansas Biological Survey, and the Lawrence Public Library brought Chris Helzer, director of science and stewardship at The Nature Conservancy Nebraska to Lawrence in 2024. Use the links below to view recordings on YouTube.
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Watch "The incredible beauty, diversity, and complexity of prairies (and why you should love them)"
Join a community of prairie protectors
You can directly support prairie land management, land protection, and education in northeast Kansas as a GHF member and donor.
GHF provides hands-on prairie restoration opportunities, academic scholarships, and workshops on prairie management, native plant gardening, and prairie ecology.
Members receive the GHF newsletter, discounts on fee workshops, discounts at GHF's annual native plant sale, and workshop & event notifications.
What you can do to protect prairie
Visit and enjoy prairies with friends.
Add native plants to your garden. They are needed by native pollinating insects, they reduce erosion, and they use less water.
Apply for a scholarship to advance our understanding of prairie ecology and restoration.
Encourage your city, county, and state to include prairie remnants and native plants in park and landscaping plans.
Keep exotic invasive plants out of your yard, parks and plant nurseries.
Events
Fall Native Plant Sale
GHF will once again be hosting a Native Plant Sale this fall at Cottin’s Hardware Farmer’s Market! We will have approximately 25 species of Kansas native wildflowers, grasses and sedges. Fall is arguably THE best time to plant our beloved native prairie plants, as they get to spend all winter growing their root systems without expending precious resources on flowering. This means more robust plants in the spring with even more flowers to enjoy!
1832 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044
Thursday
September 4, 2025
4 pm to 6:30 pm
Groundhogs at Snyder Prairie
Join Groundhogs volunteers as we complete various stewardship activities at GHF's Snyder Prairie. Email Nicole at grasslandheritage@gmail.com for further information.
Snyder Prairie, Mayetta, KS
Saturday
September 13, 2025
9AM - 12PM
Workday at Prairie Park
Join GHF for a prairie restoration workday at Prairie Park in Lawrence. Our efforts will be focused on the continued removal of invasive woody plants in the prairie restoration on the east side of Prairie Park. Wear weather-appropriate clothes for outdoor work, and please RSVP: https://forms.gle/WEDFtXTadQJtePtd8.
2811 Kensington Rd., Lawrence KS 66046
Saturday
September 20, 2025
10AM - 12PM
Groundhogs at Snyder Prairie
Join Groundhogs volunteers as we complete various stewardship activities at GHF's Snyder Prairie. Email Nicole at grasslandheritage@gmail.com for further information.
Snyder Prairie, Mayetta, KS
Saturday
October 11, 2025
9AM - 12PM
Groundhogs at Snyder Prairie
Join Groundhogs volunteers as we complete various stewardship activities at GHF's Snyder Prairie. Email Nicole at grasslandheritage@gmail.com for further information.
Snyder Prairie, Mayetta KS
Saturday, November 8
November 8, 2025
9AM - 12PM
Soil Fungi Talk: Dr. Liz Koziol
Join GHF to explore the amazing world of plant-fungi interactions! KU scientist Dr. Liz Koziol will share her work on the importance of soil fungi in prairie ecosystems.
Baker Wetlands Discovery Center, 1365 N 1250 Rd, Lawrence, KS 66046
Sunday, November 16
November 16, 2025
1:30PM
Contact Grassland Heritage Foundation
PO Box 394
Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201
Send us a message