22 Nebraskaland • July 2026
In 1959, associate editor Mary Brashier wrote Nebraskaland's first
wildflower feature, "Flowering Fun," helping set the stage for native
plants to appear more prominently in the magazine.
I
n 1926, when Outdoor Nebraska was first published,
conservation in Nebraska and across the United
S ta te s wa s s t i l l i n i t s i n fa n c y. Fo l l ow i n g t h e
Homestead Act of 1862, settlement of the state
began in earnest, and in the decades that followed, game
and fish were overharvested while their habitats were
degraded by the plowing of prairies, cutting of woodlands
and draining of wetlands. Many people depended on deer,
elk, pronghorn, waterfowl, grouse and fish for food, and
for some hunting and fishing was a form of recreation.
As these wild animals declined, Nebraskans took notice
and pushed for protection. Outdoor Nebraska reflected
both public interest and the mission of the then-called
Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, and
most of its content was devoted to game and fish.
At the time, nongame creatures — including wildflowers
— drew little attention, receiving only a few sentences in
the magazine. As their decline continued and ecological
awareness grew, people began to take notice. As Outdoor
Nebraska transitioned to Nebraskaland in the mid-20th
century, those brief mentions gradually grew into beautifully
illustrated feature articles.
A Drought of Wildflowers
For wildflower and other nongame enthusiasts, early
issues of Outdoor Nebraska would have been a dull read.
It was a sportsman's magazine, plain and simple. A 1927
issue, for instance, contained articles on new game and fish
laws, pheasant stocking, muskrat farming and game fish
propagation. Plants barely registered. People gave little
