There are many species of goldenrod in Kansas, and all of them are godsends for the many bees, beetles, butterflies and other insect pollinators who visit their copious blossoms.

The American ground potato is a vine with edible tubers even more nutritious than the domesticated potato and was a staple food for many North American tribes. “Topeka” means “place where we dig potatoes” for the Kansa and Osage tribes.

American lotus, the largest flower in North America, is currently blooming on waterways in eastern portions of Kansas. In addition to having an edible tuber and seeds, its seed pod can enhance dried flower arrangements.

”One of my favorite memories from childhood is one I can renew almost every year: the Perseid Meteor Shower,” Ken Lassman writes in this week’s Kaw Valley Almanac.

“A snowberry clearwing moth landed on my leg while at the Prairie Park prairie, a timely reminder that this week is National Moth Week,” Ken Lassman writes.