Prairie Flowers in Summer
June and July are when the prarie is at the peak of bloom in the tall grass prairies of Eastern Nebraska. By this time in the summer, all the flowers and grasses are about knee to waist high.
In the early spring, beginning in March, a succession of bloom begins that continues until hard freeze in September or October. Throughout the summer, each wave of new flowers that begin to bloom are taller than the last.
Early spring pussy toes and fairie lilies bloom only a few inches tall. Wild strawberries and violets of several species and colors carpet the ground by late April to early May. The grasses begin to green up and grow above the flowers during the summer and can get as tall as a person by fall.
Prairie phlox sparkles in many combinations of pinks and whites. Purple prairie clover with either purple or white flower heads and golden coreopsis daisies of several species flourish. Brilliant oranges and reds of butterfly milkweed and many more species make the summer prairie a glorious riot of color.
Many species of butterflies, bees and other insects are attracted to the diversity of plants on the native prairie. Many mammals from small mice to deer, birds that like open areas, hawks and owls all live on or near a prairie.
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