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@ Wild Sunflowers, Kansas
Rick O'Shade begins his journey through Kansas & Oklahoma!
Wild Sunflowers, Kansas
You can see vast fields of wild sunflowers like these while taking a drive down any road in Kansas.

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@ Kansas Crop Duster

Navy Flower Power Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Kansas Crop Duster
Hundreds of acres of Kansas wheat crops are easily dusted with this Boeing Stearman biplane. Wave to the pilot and he will dip his wings to say hello back to you.

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@ Kansas Wheat Field
Birdwatchers in Oklahoma can look for greater roadrunners, red-headed woodpeckers and scissortail flycatchers.
Kansas Wheat Field
The Wheat State. The amber waves of grain on the Kansas prairies have also earned it the nickname of the breadbasket of the world. Kansas has been producing wheat many years before it even became a state in 1861. n recent years, Kansas has averaged 328 million bushels of wheat on 8.5 million acres of farmland! Thank you to all the wheat farmers for your hard work every year!

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@ Pronghorn in Western Kansas
Cimarron County, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the only county in the U.S. bordered by 4 separate states - Texas, New Mexico, Colorado & Kansas.
Pronghorn in Western Kansas
The pronghorn antelope is indigenous to interior western and central north America. In fact, North America is the only place they can be found. They are the fastest land animals in the Western Hemisphere, with running speeds close to 60 mph (88.5 kmh).

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@ Lone Rider at Sunset in Kansas
Step into frontier life at Old Cowtown Museum, a "town" of about 40 historic buildings furnished to look like as they did in the 1860s and 1870s! A general store, a jail, and a schoolhouse can all be explored.
Lone Rider at Sunset in Kansas
The sun is setting on a hot Kansas summer day and this lone rider has saddled up his horse and is going for a ride to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and quiet stillness of the Kansas plains.

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@ Rockhounding in Flint Hills, Kansas
"Nickname of Kansas, Rick O'Shade?" asked Noctema.
"That's easy -- it's nicknamed after its state flower -- the Sunflower State!"
Rockhounding in Flint Hills, Kansas
In the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, the Fort Riley Limestone Member is the most prominent. Various fossils such as brachiopods, bryozoans, pelecypods, or fusulinids, among others, have been found. You can also find in Flint Hills, Kansas, various geodes, which consist of quartz, chalcedony, or calcite. They are located in this region, near Rock town, or along the Walnut River, in Cowley, Riley, or Marshall counties. In Flint Hills, you can find one of the rarest igneous rocks, kimberlites. They occur at the surface in Marshall and Riley counties, and in some of them, even garnet has been found.

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@ Monument Rocks, Gove County, Kansas
Famous Kansans include pilot Amelia Earhart, environmental activist Erin Brockovich, saxophonist Charlie Parker, and actress Vivian Vance, who played Ethel on the classic comedy I Love Lucy.
Monument Rocks, Gove County, Kansas
Most of Kansas consists of flat plains, but not this area of Northwest Kansas! Monument Rocks are a geologic formation made up mainly but not entirely of chalk, and the layers at Monument Rocks include chalky limestone and chalky shale. The chalk beds first became famous in the 19th century for fossils of giant swimming reptiles called mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, gliding pterosaurs, aquatic birds with teeth, 20-foot-long fish, clams up to six feet in diameter, and many types of smaller marine animals. Fossils are not as common at Monument Rocks as they are in the less-visited badlands and outcrops along the Smoky Hill, Saline, and Solomon rivers and their tributaries. Although Monument Rocks National Landmark is on private property, the landowners do allow visitors.

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@ Mustangs, Kansas
Oklahoma State bird: scissor-tailed flycatcher
Mustangs, Kansas
Wild horses could not take me away, though they may blow me away as they gallop past. Thousands of wild mustangs roam the plains in Kansas, though they are not truly classified as wild, the only true wild horse in the world is the Przewalski's horse, which is found in Mongolia.

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@ Tree Swallow in Kansas
Oklahoma State bird: scissor-tailed flycatcher
Tree Swallow in Kansas
Tree swallows can be found in every state in the United States. Nearly the entire state of Kansas lies in the migratory path of tree swallows. They begin migrating in July and August, flying during the day and roosting in large flocks at night.

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@ Heart Shaped Hole,Kansas
Oklahoma is home to amphibians like gray tree frogs and Woodhouse toads (the state’s largest toad). Reptiles include copperhead snakes, snapping turtles, and American alligators.
Heart Shaped Hole,Kansas
At some point, when this was a living tree a branch was either cut off or snapped off naturally. Over time the tree died and all that is left is this part of the trunk with an interesting hole.

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@ Arkansas River, Wichita, Kansas
In 1889 settlers were allowed to race into parts of Oklahoma and claim land for themselves. But some managed to get to these spots before the territory was officially open to them. They were called “sooners,” which eventually became the state’s nickname: the Sooner State.
Arkansas River, Wichita, Kansas
This section of the Arkansas River in Wichita, Kansas is the favorite dining spot for a gaggle of Canada geese. And why wouldn't it be? The food is delivered directly into their beaks!

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@ Sunflower, Kansas' State Flower
Common trees that grow here include red maple, sweetgum, Ponderosa pine, hickory, and eastern redbud (Oklahoma’s state tree). Coneflower, buttonbush, Indian blanket, and ghost flower are some of the state’s wildflowers.
Sunflower, Kansas' State Flower
There are more than 70 different varieties of sunflowers, so no matter which variety of sunflowers you choose to plant, you will be growing the state flower of Kansas.

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@ Oklahoma Huckleberries
Pronghorn antelopes, American bison, armadillos, and coyotes are just a few of Oklahoma’s mammals.
Oklahoma Huckleberries
Looking like little clusters of wild blueberries, huckleberries taste a little like them, but bring their own party to your mouth!

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@ Oklahoma Horse Barn
In the northeast part of the state, cedar, maple, oak and walnut trees grow. Cottonwood, the state tree, crops up throughout the state. But Kansas is covered in a lot of grass: the west grows buffalo grass; the Southeastern Plains have bluestem grass, switch grass, and Indian grass; and the Great Plains grow bluegrass. Common wildflowers include sunflowers, verbena, purple coneflower, prairie phlox and prickly poppy.
Oklahoma Horse Barn
Come closer and don't forget to share that apple when you get here. I love nose skritches and to be brushed. You brought a brush, right?

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@ Oklahoma Marmot
Oh look ... you won a Frontier pet!
Oklahoma Marmot
Fuzzy little chonks, these ground rodents are cuter than the button that claims all the fame. Chirping to warn of danger to the pack, you'll want to take one home, but don't. Just snap the awwweee photos and move on!

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@ Oklahoma Buffalo Reflection
In the northeast part of the state, cedar, maple, oak and walnut trees grow. Cottonwood, the state tree, crops up throughout the state. But Kansas is covered in a lot of grass: the west grows buffalo grass; the Southeastern Plains have bluestem grass, switch grass, and Indian grass; and the Great Plains grow bluegrass. Common wildflowers include sunflowers, verbena, purple coneflower, prairie phlox and prickly poppy.
Oklahoma Buffalo Reflection
A reflection of time gone by, thundering herds that ruled the plains, standing alone, but never alone.

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@ Oklahoma, Flag
Oklahoma State flower: Oklahoma rose
Oklahoma, Flag
Always, country to the top, and proudly wave the state flag of Oklahoma.

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@ Oklahoma Sunset
In 1889 settlers were allowed to race into parts of Oklahoma and claim land for themselves. But some managed to get to these spots before the territory was officially open to them. They were called “sooners,” which eventually became the state’s nickname: the Sooner State.
Oklahoma Sunset
Streaks of color fill the dusk, painting memories of gold, shifting like the sands on shore.

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@ Oklahoma Oil Well at Sunlight
Capital of Oklahoma is Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Oil Well at Sunlight
Dawn creeps slowly over the Eastern horizon, lending beauty to the ever working pump jacks in the fields, that create an artistry to man and machine.

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@ Oklahoma Prairie Grass
The state can be divided into 10 different geographic regions.
1. The Ozark Plateau is in the northeast. It includes a bit of the Ozark mountain range, which has ridges, steep valleys, caves, and sinkholes.
2. In the northeast is the Prairie Plains, fertile farmlands where animals graze.
3. In the southeast is the Ouachita Mountains region, which includes Ouachita National Forest (part of this forest is also in Arkansas.)
4. East-central Oklahoma contains the Sandstone Hills region that has low, rocky hills.
5. In south-central Oklahoma, the Arbuckle Mountains are one of North America’s oldest ranges, at 1.3 billion years old. They’ve been heavily eroded.
6. Travel southwest to reach the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, the state’s biggest wildlife refuge.
7. The Red River Valley runs along Oklahoma’s border with Texas.
8. In addition to the Red River, which forms the wiggly boundary between the two states, this area has sandy, fertile soil and some forests.
9. In the center of the state is Oklahoma’s largest land region, the Red Beds Plains, with gentle hills made of red sandstone and shale. Farther west are the Gypsum Hills, low hills capped with up to 20 feet of sparkling gypsum, a soft mineral.
10.The High Plains are flat grasslands in the northwest. They include the Oklahoma panhandle, the 34-mile-wide strip that stretches west beneath Colorado. This is the highest and driest part of the state.
Oklahoma Prairie Grass
Whispers of wind flit in and out of the blades of grass, dancing and weaving against a backdrop of softening sunlight before dipping into darkness.

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@ Oklahoma Sunrise at the Paddocks
Step into frontier life at Old Cowtown Museum, a "town" of about 40 historic buildings furnished to look like as they did in the 1860s and 1870s! A general store, a jail, and a schoolhouse can all be explored.
Oklahoma Sunrise at the Paddocks
Shaking the morning dew from glossy coats, swishing manes and tails, warming up with the sun to make gallop to greet the new day!

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@ Oklahoma Brewing Storm
Reptiles in Kansas include prairie king snakes, western worm snakes, prairie lizards, and Great Plains skinks.
Oklahoma Brewing Storm
The ominous clouds gather over the Red River, promise of fury in the darkening horizon, the slight smell of ozone from lightening strikes not yet seen, seek cover soon!

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@ Oklahoma Deer
"Nickname of Kansas, Rick O'Shade?" asked Mr X.
"That's easy -- it's nicknamed after its state flower -- the Sunflower State!"
Oklahoma Deer
Rarely seen during the day, masters of camouflage, you have to look twice before you realize the silent visitors are here to observe you as well.

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@ Oklahoma Light Show
Oklahoma is home to amphibians like gray tree frogs and Woodhouse toads (the state’s largest toad). Reptiles include copperhead snakes, snapping turtles, and American alligators.
Oklahoma Light Show
With nothing but the waiving grains to break the horizon, you're in for front row seating to the spectacular show of light.

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@ Oklahoma Collared Lizard
Rick O'Shade has now completed his journey through Kansas & Oklahoma! As he prepares to go home, he receives a wonderful gift!
Old Green Caboose And Road Runner
Hurry, grab my wing, and up we go. Whew! You made it. I usually prefer to run everywhere, but my friend—the coyote—wanted me to lend a wing with this train run today. It feels odd sitting in this here old caboose. It looks right good though; we recently gave it a lick of green paint to spruce it up. So, where are you going? Are you just sightseeing? There is an old ghost town along the way; do you mean to stop off there? Have you travelled by train before? Sorry for all the questions. I am usually running too fast to stop and spin a yarn.

Oklahoma Collared Lizard
Wild and free, me! I love to skittle around on the rocks and bask in the sun! I have some relatives who decided to take the comfort of being pets, maybe someday I'll go that route, but now, I'll make my own rules.
Rick O'Shade has enjoyed his journey through Kansas & Oklahoma, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy a journey through the American Frontier!