Bee City Wichita
Wichita is the first Bee City USA affiliate in the state of Kansas.
Bee City Wichita strives to make Wichita an oasis for native pollinators by planting native gardens, reducing pesticides, and educating in our community.
Our committee is looking for garden and prairie restoration sites in the Wichita area, or existing projects that would like our support. We’re asking members of the community to submit their project ideas.
What's a Bee City?
The title of Bee City is awarded by The Xerces Society to cities showing a commitment to pollinators and green space in the city through their Bee City USA program. To become an affiliate with Bee City USA the City of Wichita has to commit to increasing education of pollinators as well as habitat restoration across the city. Grassland Groupies. has agreed to lead the Bee City Planning Committee to help coordinate efforts to meet this goal.
By providing space for pollinators we also increase our green space for people. This provides Wichitans new opportunities to get outside, connect with each other, and learn together. Our ultimate goal is to create a city that is a thriving environment for people, plants, and pollinators alike.
For a full listing of Bee City commitments and learn more about the initiative visit the Bee City USA website. Our resolution outlining exact goals can also be viewed below.
Planting Native Gardens in Kansas
Plant native, because native plants are...
Native plants are beneficial not only to the environment around you but can lower the time and money spent on a garden. Every garden needs upkeep, so planting native is still a commitment.
When looking for native plants, it’s best to get plants grown as close to where you will plant them as possible. That’s why we recommend sourcing from the local growers below.
Local Native Plant Suppliers
Dyck Arboretum – nonprofit specializing in education, native plant sales, and gardening. Near-endless source of knowledge on native plant gardens. Check out their blog for tips, plant recommendations, and more.
Kansas Native Plant Society – offers free Plant a Prairie starter packages to teachers as well as native plant resources.
Wichita Wildflowers – Wichita-based supplier of native plants.
Prairie Pride Native Plants – Wichita-based. Primarily sells native grasses, wholesale prices available.
Hidden River Prairie Nursery – A native prairie nursery in the Ninnescah River Valley, Kansas. Open by appointment.
Botanical Belonging – based in Tonganoxie, KS. Native plant supplier and educational nonprofit.
Sharp Bros. Seed Co. – great Kansas-based resource for bulk seed for larger restoration projects.
Buffalo Seed Company – sells seeds for the Midwest region including native plants and produce. Based in Northeast Kansas.
Monarch Watch – sells plants and offer free milkweed to restoration projects, schools, and nonprofits. Great resource on monarchs and monarch migration. Not Kansas based.
Prairie Moon Nursery – Minnesota-based nursery offering seeds, plants, plant kits, and gardening supplies.
Prairie Nursery – sells seeds and plants, including pre-planned kits. Based in Wisconsin.
Native Plant Information Databases
Need more information about the native plants for your area? Start here!
☆ Kansas Wildflowers & Grasses – Kansas wildflower and grass identification with thorough species information. They also have a KS Wildflower mobile app.
Grow Native – Database of native plant sellers, plus tips and guides. Covers the lower Midwest.
Plant Native – Database of native plant sellers, plus tips and guides. Covers most of the United States.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Look up information on the specific native plants that grow near you. Covers North America.
Have a favorite resource not listed here? Let Nicole know: nicole@grasslandgroupies.org
By changing our gardens to be filled with beautiful native flowers, grasses, and shrubs we can make a huge difference. These native plants provide food, shelter, and a place to raise young that cannot be matched by non-native plants. It’s time to rethink our endless expanses of lawns.
Help Us Garden in Wichita
We need volunteers to create and take care of gardens and green spaces throughout the city! We also plan group work days to help improve habitats and always need extra hands/tools.
These events are always open to the public. Find them here or on the Grassland Groupies Facebook page under Events.
Support us at our merch store!
Bee City Planning Committee
Meet the Bee City Planning Committee! This group meets often to discuss future projects and possible areas of improvement in Wichita. While not an official board for the City of Wichita, we communicate closely through our city Liaison to ensure meaningful collaboration.
We want to have a committee member in each city council district so if you see a need that you think you can fill, reach out to learn more.
- Nicole Brown, Committee Chair, Grassland Groupies
- Rachel Roth, Committee Co-Chair, Grassland Groupies
- Gary Farris, City Liaison, Park and Recreation
- Krista Dallinger, Kansas Native Plant Society
- Dexter Mardis, District 1 Representative
- Dr. Ana Jurcak-Detter, District 4 Representative
- Seth Macy, District 6 Representative
Next Committee Meeting: January 2025
These meetings are free and open to the public and hosted at the Advanced Learning Library in the Keeney Stevens Board Room on the fourth Thursday of every month. We will have a public comment period from 6:30-7:00 PM where people are welcome to give ideas or feedback on the initiative. Afterwards, updates and discussion will be led by the committee from 7:00-7:30.
Advanced Learning Library
711 West 2nd St N, Wichita, KS 67203
6:30-7:30PM, Advanced Learning Library
Keeney Stevens Board Room (2nd floor, left of stairs)
If you have a comment/proposal you would like to make during the meeting please email Nicole ahead of time to save a timeslot: nicole@grasslandgroupies.org
September’s meeting is private for volunteers preparing for ICT Bee Fest. November/December the committee does not meet.