The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC), staff, and friends recently toured H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area in Franklin County. Despite soggy ground from recent heavy rains, participants were able to witness the magnificence of the tallgrass prairie in spring.

At the previous day’s Commission meeting, Steven Hunter, author and photographer, presented some of his photographs from his most recent book “Graced by the Light.” This book features a compilation of photographs from Cherokee Prairie Natural Area, H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area, and Presson-Oglesby Preserve, as well as narrative from Hunter about the photographs. Hunter also joined the group touring H.E. Flanagan Prairie the next morning.

Cherokee and H.E. Flanagan Prairies are part of the ANHC System of Natural Areas. Presson-Oglesby is owned by The Nature Conservancy.

Theo Witsell, senior botanist at ANHC, led a tour of Flanagan Prairie, identifying several flowers and plants for field trip participants.