May 2023 • Nebraskaland 49
dotted gayfeather can grow under stresses other plants can't
handle. During times of drought, grazing, or other diffi cult
conditions, dotted gayfeather comes through for those who
depend upon it.
I'm not sure dotted gayfeather is the perfect wildfl ower.
There are a lot of contenders for that title, after all. Either
way, the plant is a wonderful combination of resilience and
beauty that's worthy of admiration. If dotted gayfeather was
a person, we'd all want to hang out with them — or at least
watch them on TV. Tough, stubborn, and spiteful, but also
fl amboyant and generous? Come on! Characters like that
make the world worth living in.
N
Chris Helzer is the Nebraska Director of Science for the
Nature Conservancy and is based in Aurora.
When he isn't searching for obscure subject matter
to photograph and write about, he conducts research and
captures lessons from the Conservancy's land management and
restoration work.
Chris is a regular contributor to Nebraskaland Magazine.
Bumble bees, like this brown-belted one, are particularly drawn to the blossoms of dotted gayfeather, as seen at the Nature
Conservancy's Platte River Prairies. The plant's resilience makes it available regardless of weather, grazing or other challenges.
