Overland Park Arboretum -- prairie AND trees!

     Kansas is famous for being a 'prairie' state. So I wouldn't expect to see much other than cottonwoods and grasses at an arboretum and botanical garden in Overland Park, MO -- south of Kansas City, MO and close to the Kansas border. But I was wrong! And pleased to be wrong!
         These 300 acres DO have 180 acres set aside in prairie, but they also have 13 gardens, a sculpture garden, Monet garden and 6 miles of paved and wood chip trails. These wood chip trails traverse riparian woodlands and mesic oak-hickory forest. Their visitor center has available a black and white booklet about some of their trees (which are numbered and located on a map so you can easily find them) with a botanical line drawing. If you are a tree lover, you will definitely want to pick one up and use it. They are a variety of trees including: hickory, elm, ash, sycamore, walnut, chinkapin oak, pawpaws, littleleaf linden and Pekin lilacs. 
          I think it is wonderful, in this world of ever-dwindling freshwater resources, that they have a xeriscape garden as well. This garden showcases plants that have low water requirements. I also appreciate that leashed dogs are permitted on all the woodchip trails.