August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
This summer, hordes of people flocked to Lawrence City Hall, clutching posters and handwritten speeches, demanding city leaders keep Prairie Park Nature Center open. Now Parks and Rec leaders want to hear from the public again.
Daniel Lassman
Some goldenrods are still blooming, attracting a northern paper wasp on the right. These wasps are omnivores and this one clearly likes carbohydrates!
Lawrence community members can get a closer look at a variety of electric vehicles at a showcase on Sunday at South Park.
Ken Lassman
Asters of many color have begun to bloom across the state, including these purple New England asters, which also bloom as far west as the Plains states and as far south as Mississippi.
Ken Lassman
Monarch migration is in full swing, though south winds this past week have made it difficult to move ahead. This monarch was finding refuge in some goldenrod.
Monarch butterflies arrive in Kansas mid-September each year, but the renowned species has recently been deemed endangered. Some events scheduled for this weekend in Lawrence will both celebrate and raise awareness of local monarch conservation efforts.
Johnson and Douglas counties approved regulations allowing the construction of what would be the largest utility-scale solar farm in Kansas. But while residents say they support green energy, there’s a vocal contingent pushing back against building 2,000 acres of panels so close to their communities.
A “once in a lifetime” federal investment will clean up more than 2,300 abandoned gas wells — some of which may be leaking super-polluting methane — in Kansas.
Ken Lassman
This gayfeather/blazing star can be found blooming into October. Its flowers attract many types of bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds, and other birds like its seeds in the winter.
Ken Lassman
Ashy sunflowers continue blooming this week. They are shorter perennial sunflowers with lighter green leaves than many other sunflowers.
