Summer 2026 Newsletter
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Dear Fellow Land Steward,
Slowing down to say hello is a special gift this time of year. The summer solstice reminds us to celebrate the abundance of light and life, and recognize strength in community. Thank you for opening this email and sharing a few minutes with us.
Summer is fast paced! With all of this rain, the plants are growing non-stop and the animals are celebrating in their special ways. The grasshoppers and caterpillars are chomping away and the baby birds are hopping out of their nests in the blink of an eye. The snakes are watching. My warm cheeks are always full of snacks from the prairie. We’re on constant watch for pooling water to foil the mosquitoes. There are flowers everywhere! It’s the perfect time to get outside to meet new friends.
Many of you know we’re at the starting line of some really awesome projects in Lawrence. Let’s make a difference together this year! Over the next 6 months (and beyond), we’ll work together to remove thousands of invasive plants from the banks of local waterways, we’ll plant thousands of native flowers, grasses, and trees to protect soil, teach us, and nourish us all. We’ll build a park together! We’ll celebrate on the land and at The Rookery — the outdoor classroom we’re constructing this fall at Blazing Star Prairie in collaboration with KU Architecture. Good work is happening all around and we invite you to get involved. We’re fighting for change and there’s a place for you alongside us! Thank you for sharing your strength.
P.S. We just found out you voted us into the Top 5 of the Non-Profit (land, preservation, animals) category in Best of Lawrence! Burroughs Creek Trail was also voted a Top 5 hiking and biking trail in the community. If you'd like to support stewardship of the woodlands around Burroughs Creek, you can follow the link to learn more and share a donation. Thank you for lifting us up!
For the prairie,
Courtney Masterson
Ecologist and Executive Director,
Native Lands Restoration Collaborative
Annual Blazing Star Celebration!
Blazing Star Prairie, 1111 Wild Horse Rd, Lawrence, KS 66044
Sunday, July 12 | 7–9 pm
Our home prairie is named after the iconic Blazing Star (Liatris) species who light up the land with an overwhelming burst of purple each summer. We also savor the blooms of perennial sunflowers, mints and rattlesnake master this season, visit with pollinators, and listen to the bird songs. Come see Blazing Star Prairie put on her summer best at our Annual Blazing Star Celebration!
Parking is limited to 30 vehicles. We encourage carpooling! Attendees must reserve their spot with an email to NativeLandsKS@gmail.com. This process ensures we have space for everyone and that we can keep you all informed if we have a weather delay.
Growing Roots Night
A Special Evening to Thank Our Recurring Supporters!
Blazing Star Prairie, 1111 Wild Horse Rd, Lawrence, KS 66044
Saturday, August 15 | 5–8 pm
Our recurring donors make this work possible! To celebrate and thank the people who sustain Native Lands month after month, we're hosting our first-ever Growing Roots Night. Join us for an evening at Blazing Star Prairie featuring:
A native plant dye craft
Games
Beverages crafted with flavors of the prairie
A small collection of raffle prizes
Get an Exclusive Supporter Koozie!
As a thank-you, every donor who contributes $5 or more monthly (including our existing supporters) will receive a special "Land Steward" can koozie featuring artwork by local printmaker (and new board member!) Angie Brownrabbit, produced by our friends at River Rat.
💚 Attendees will be the first to receive their koozie at Growing Roots Night, with additional pickup opportunities available at future Native Lands events.
Want to join the fun? Set up a recurring donation and RSVP to the event at the button below. (The event is capped at 50 RSVPs; we will inform you if we've begun a waitlist.)
Already a recurring donor? (Thank you—we love you!) Email arteaga.nia[at]gmail.com to RSVP or coordinate koozie pickup at a future Native Lands event.
More Upcoming Gatherings
Native Lands Field Botany Series
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!
FULL! 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
Firefly Festival at Burroughs Creek Park
Saturday, June 27 | 5–10:30 pm
900 E 15th St, Lawrence, KS 66044
FEATURING: Weda Skirts, MIKE WEST, River City Brass Band & Linda Tilton! Let's make magic and learn how to care for our creek!
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.
Update! Restoring Burroughs Creek Corridor
We are honored to have been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Douglas County Natural & Cultural Heritage to support restoration of the woodlands surrounding Burroughs Creek in East Lawrence. This collaborative project aims to improve habitat along this vital wildlife corridor, improve water quality, and revitalize a landscape that has long held ecological and cultural significance!
With the added strength of community volunteers and partners, we’ll be:
🪚 Removing invasive species (goodbye, honeysuckle!)
🍓 Replanting native foods & landscapes
🌱 Co-hosting free native food educational gatherings for the community
This funding allows us to begin in a meaningful way—but it’s only half of what’s needed to fully realize the restoration of this important corridor. 💚 Here's how your gift can drive this work:
$4 puts a native plant in the ground
$650 funds an invasive species removal workday
$1,000 funds a workday plus replanting
Native Lands in the News
Most American prairies are gone. These people are working to bring them back
Jess Savage, April 7, 2026, KCUR. Read now.
Midco and Native Lands collaborate to plan native plant park in downtown Lawrence
Hannah Loub, April 12, 2026, The Lawrence Times. Read now.
Local artist, biologist imagine upcoming native plant park in downtown Lawrence
Lily O'Shea Becker, April 22, 2026, KSHB. Read now.
Midco CEO intent on putting roots in downtown Lawrence with renovated store, native plant park next door
Bremen Keasey, May 19, 2026, Lawrence Journal World. Read now.