Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, Botanical garden in Hesston, Kansas, US
The Dyck Arboretum of the Plains is a botanical garden on the grounds of Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, focused on native plants of the Great Plains. The grounds include walking paths through wildflower beds, native grass areas, a pond, and a reconstructed prairie section.
The arboretum was founded in October 1981 after Harold and Elva Mae Dyck donated their land to Hesston College. The college took over its care and gradually expanded the grounds to include more plant collections and the reconstructed prairie area.
Many visitors come specifically when native wildflowers are in bloom, and use the opportunity to learn about planting their own yards in a similar way. The garden hosts one of the largest native plant sales in Kansas, drawing people from across the region each year.
The garden is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and the visitor center is accessible Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Children should always be accompanied by an adult, and photographers are asked to follow posted guidelines when on the grounds.
The arboretum has a dedicated buffalograss meadow, a native grass that once covered much of the North American prairie and is rarely seen in cultivated gardens today. Visitors who look closely may also spot cases of aster yellows, a plant disease that causes coneflowers to grow in unusual shapes, with small new flowers sprouting from inside the main bloom.
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