"Under the bluffs that overhung the marsh he came upon thickets of wild roses, with flaming buds, just beginning to open. Where they had opened, their petals were stained with that burning rose colour which is always gone by noon,--a dye made of sunlight and morning and moisture, so intense that it cannot possibly last...must fade, like ecstasy." -A Lost Lady

The Willa Cather Memorial Prairie is vested with special plants including purple prairie clover and coneflower, big bluestem, side-oats grama, and more. We estimate the existence of 250 reliant plant species, including the rare Fremont's evening primrose and Fendler's aster---both potential candidates for "threatened" status by the Nebraska Natural Heritage Program. Plant species include, but are not limited to, big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, switchgrass, side-oats grama, redtop, tall or rough dropseed, Canada wildrye, buffalo grass, and blue grama. Examples of the legumes observed are golden dalea, white prairie clover, purple prairie clover, round-headed lespedeza, deer vetch, leadplant, and scurf pea. Please click on the images below for a larger view and a short description.