Spring 2026 Newsletter
- Mar 22
- 4 min read
Dear Fellow Land Steward,
Step into spring with us, friends! Or summer? What season is this? No matter the weather, we prairie people are resilient. The oscillation between winter and summer may wilt the tender non-native species in cultivated landscapes but our diverse native ecosystems haven't missed a beat! The prairie violets are pushing their way through freshly burned prairie soils. The trout lily blooms held strong through 10°F lows last week. The woodcocks danced and meeped on schedule. And we were out there dancing with them! Celebrate this season of renewed life, friends. As we care for the land, the land teaches us strength through adversity, love despite the hurdles, growth and community against all odds. We'll see you on the land this season! Join us for the new Mini Native Food and Gardens Tour in May - these farmers and land stewards are leading the way to healthier landscapes and food systems. We have so much to learn together!
Courtney Masterson
Ecologist and Executive Director,
Native Lands Restoration Collaborative
Announcing Midco Prairie
by Native Lands!
Pictured above: Rendering by Sur Landscape Architecture.
We’re beyond thrilled to share that, in partnership with Midco, Native Lands Restoration Collaborative will be leading the construction of a new native landscaped park at 7th & New Hampshire in Downtown Lawrence! We’re deeply grateful for Midco’s trust and shared belief in the importance of human relationships with native ecosystems.
Over the next few months, traveling through this busy downtown intersection will treat you to a rare sight — the transition of a parking lot to a healthy ecosystem. We'll be collaborating with Lawrence Arborists and SpyderArt Constructors to remove the non-native trees and asphalt over the next few weeks! Thoughtfully designed in collaboration with Sur Landscape Architecture, the space will include an ADA-accessible native flagstone path installed by beloved local stonemason Karl Ramberg, ephemeral prairie trails, a community gathering space, and rain garden filtration. With educational labeling throughout, this space will invite learning, nourishment, play, rest, and reflection along the Lawrence Loop. Stay tuned for a ribbon-cutting this fall and upcoming opportunities to help steward this space together!
1st Annual Mini Native Foods and Gardens Tour
Saturday, May 2 (Rain date: May 3) | 10 am – 2 pm
Join Native Lands Restoration Collaborative, local farmers and gardeners for a short, open tour of local native food and garden plantings! Meet native plant species, learn directly from the land stewards about their experiences working with native plants, and dream forward for your own plantings.
Learn more about our Nourishing Communities project.
More Upcoming Gatherings
Community Land Stewardship Gatherings with Haskell Greenhouse
Saturday, April 4 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Saturday, April 18 | 3:00 – 5:00pm
S. Perimeter Road, Lawrence, KS
RSVP to NativeLandsKS@gmail.com
Trails That Connect Us! Hosted by Friends of Lawrence Area Trails
Thursday, April 23 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Free State Brewing Company Bottling Faciliity
1927 Moodie Rd, Lawrence, KS
Native Lands Field Botany Series - Spring: Leaves & Stems
Sunday, May 17 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Blazing Star Prairie, 1111 Wild Horse Rd, Lawrence, KS 66044
Cost: $20–$60 per class (sliding scale)
RSVP to NativeLandsKS@gmail.com
Botany Series Schedule: Sign up for one or more of these workshops!
Spring: Leaves & Stems - May 17 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Summer: Flowers & Fruits - July 18 | 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Fall: Seeds & Roots - September 26 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Winter: Buds & Bark - December 19 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
All of these events & more live on the Kaw Valley Environmental Events Calendar. Visit the link below and add this calendar to your own device.
Building the "Tool Box"
This semester, we’ve partnered with KU sophomores in the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program to plan and build the Tool Box — a dedicated space for our team and volunteers to organize, maintain, and prepare tools for field work days. This foundational space strengthens our ability to teach the community how to use and care for the tools essential to restoration work.
Through this collaboration, students have grown their leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while sourcing and installing tables, cabinets, shelves, and hooks to bring the Tool Box to life. This is a significant step towards building the Rookery, which will provide space for an outdoor classroom that will be built this fall in collaboration with the KU Architecture Department!
Board Update
We’re excited to introduce you to new NLRC Board members soon! Like the ecosystems we steward, our Board is strengthened through cycles of renewal. Keep us in mind, and email Apolonia (arteaga.nia [at] gmail.com) with any questions.
Share Your Strength
While every gift supports our work as a whole, here is one example of how your donation helps us steward these spaces day in and day out: Our team is currently working to purchase a replacement mower — an essential tool for maintaining trails, managing woody growth, and keeping our parking areas accessible for visitors. By giving once or becoming a monthly donor, your crucial support gives our team peace of mind and ripples outward to our entire community.
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