Pollinator Palooza Plant Sale begins today.
Hello, again!
Last week, my friend John Hobbs was inducted into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, located in nearby Emporia, Kansas. For those of us who’ve been riding for years, John is a familiar face. Many first met him when he worked at Wichita-area bike shops, always offering a warm smile and unmatched bike knowledge.
From 1989 to 2001, John and his wife Carol Sue hosted the Flint Hills Death Ride - a pioneering event that led cyclists through the rugged beauty of the Flint Hills. The route began and ended in Madison, Kansas, and laid the groundwork for a growing gravel riding movement. Out of that legacy came events like Dirty Kanza, now known as Unbound Gravel, which welcomed 5,000 riders this past weekend. The gravel scene has continued to grow, with organizations like Discover Gravel offering even more challenges - including a grueling 1,000-mile test of endurance right here in the region.
This weekend, John and Carol Sue’s son Nathan Hobbs added another chapter to the family story, completing the Unbound Gravel XL - a 350-mile odyssey through the Flint Hills. Nathan finished in 25 hours, 4 minutes, and 52 seconds, placing 26th out of 200 starters. An impressive feat by any measure!
You know my love for the Flint Hills. I often say it’s the most scenic spot on Earth. The rock formations are beautiful, sure - but it’s the plants that really capture my attention.
Our native Kansas plants are built tough. They thrive in drought and don’t want to be fussed over with too much water. These plants do more than survive - they play a crucial role in supporting our ecosystem, especially as food sources for beneficial insect larvae.
Many of the best-performing perennials in our gardens are natives to this region. Some come straight from the prairies of the Flint Hills, while others have been enhanced by breeders for longer bloom time, new colors, or more compact growth. Just like nature, breeders select and cross varieties to bring out the best features. Spend time observing a single species in the wild, and you’ll see subtle natural variations - proof that nature is a great hybridizer, as well.
As we’ve shared before, pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds rely on these plants - not just for nectar, but also for foliage as they migrate through Kansas.
Here are a few of my favorite native and adapted perennials that thrive in Kansas, bloom through much of the season, and make excellent pollinator plants. They’re also drought-tolerant and perform well in sun or shade:
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed): My all-time favorite! This Kansas native grows 18–24” tall with clusters of vibrant yellow, orange or red-orange flowers. If I help you in the perennial section, don’t be surprised if I encourage you to take one home.
Oenothera macrocarpa (Missouri Evening-Primrose): A tough, low-growing perennial with large yellow flowers that open in the evening and fade by midday. It’s pollinated by night-flying sphinx moths and thrives in rocky soils - just like those found in the Flint Hills.
Coreopsis (Tickseed): With bright yellow blooms and a low, bushy form, this makes a great border plant in sunny spots. Deadheading spent blooms keeps it flowering til frost.
Leucanthemum × superbum (Shasta Daisy): Today’s Shasta varieties go way beyond what our grandparents grew. Compact or upright, single or double-flowered, they brighten up the garden all summer long.
Salvia ('May Night' & Improved Varieties): Early bloomers that keep flowering with deadheading. There are many new cultivars that offer improved habit and re-blooming power.
Echinacea (Coneflower): Another Kansas native now available in an expanded range of colors - from yellow to orange to deep red. It loves full sun and thrives in our soil, making it perfect for borders and naturalizing.
Monarda (Bee Balm): A favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies, this aromatic perennial is deer- and rabbit-resistant and blooms throughout summer.
If you’d like to explore more about Flint Hills flora, I highly recommend the Pocket Guide to Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses. It’s free to download, or you can pick up a copy at the Great Plains Nature Center, located at 29th Street North and Woodlawn in Wichita. This guide, and many others they offer, can make any hike through the prairie a deeper, more educational experience.
It brings me so much joy to see more people planting gardens. I especially love seeing kids get involved - watching their faces light up as they plant a seed, tend to it, and see it grow into something beautiful or delicious. Whether it’s a small container garden on a patio or a backyard patch, the experience of growing your own food is powerful.
Thanks to Botanical Interests, one of our seed suppliers, we’re able to donate last year’s seed packets to great causes. And there’s no better group to receive them than kids. Bring the kids into the store and let them pick out seeds they would like to plant.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
