Nature

Overland Park is updating city codes to make space for planned native landscapes, which have long been banned as "weeds." That could mean front yard gardens featuring milkweed, blue sage, native flowers and other species that once dominated the northeastern Kansas landscape.

One of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s corpse flowers named Octavia is expected to bloom this week. Its yet-unnamed clone will likely bloom next week.

It’s tick season — and they're a problem all throughout Missouri, not just in rural areas. And there's a real risk of tick-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease.

Located smack in the middle of Missouri, Columbia is more than the home of the University of Missouri. It's also a destination for dining, entertainment, and access to nature.

Prairies used to stretch across all of the central United States. Only a portion of that ecosystem still exists, but there are still some impressive sites in Kansas and Missouri as well as ongoing efforts to restore the native landscape.

Hundreds of youth affiliated with different religious groups have been pitching in to help Kansas City remove an invasive plant species.

Honey bees are critical to pollinating field crops and fruit trees across the region — and they make delicious honey. One Kansas City beekeeper helps when these insects make their homes in inconvenient places. Plus: Big dollars are going towards urban tree canopies across the country.

The nine-banded armadillo, which is native to Central and South America, has been migrating north for decades as average temperatures rise. And because of the mild winter Kansas City just had, it’s likely residents in the metro will notice more armadillos than usual in the coming months.

Honey bees may not be native to North America, but the insects are critical to pollinating field crops and fruit trees across the region — not to mention the delicious honey they make. Occasionally, though, Missouri's official state insects make their homes in inconvenient places. One local beekeeper is known for stepping in to help.

Unexpected Blooms accepts leftover flowers with at least 6-inch long stems from events like weddings and galas around the Kansas City area. Volunteers then deconstruct, cut, and arrange the flowers into new bouquets to deliver to about 30 local healthcare facilities.

Spring brings a return of wildlife and a boost in temperature, but it also reminds conservationists of the ongoing war against the Callery Pear tree. Known for its picturesque blossoms and pungent odor, this tree is hard to get rid of. Learn why the Callery Pear is virtually everywhere — and why that's a bad thing.

Climate change is making some birds migrate sooner than others to match peak insect populations