PrairieDust visual journal

photographer Dave Leiker

Golden Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)

Golden Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)

Easily the prettiest spider around in her dressed-to-kill gown, fur collar and long black stockings. These beauties are also known as "writing spiders" because of the trademark zigzag pattern in their webs (shown just below her). They have three specialized types of...

Anybody have a napkin?

Anybody have a napkin?

This old hopper looks like he just left the wildflower buffet, pollen crumbs all over his chin and clothes. On the edge of highway 99, north of Emporia, a thicket of sunfowers is in full bloom. Grasshoppers pop and buzz across my path as I walk. But this big hopper...

The H. D. Lee Flour Mill

The H. D. Lee Flour Mill

Salina, KansasThe mill is now closed down. H.D. Lee was one of the foremost entrepreneurs in Salina. In addition to the flour mill he organized the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company, the Lee Hardware Company, Harvester Building Company, the Kansas Ice & Storage Company and...

Railroad Tracks

Railroad Tracks

Above: Beaumont, KansasBelow: northwest Salina I've got the freight train blues Oh, lawdy mama got em on the bottom of my ramblin' shoes And when the whistle blows, I gotta go Baby don't you know It looks like I'm never gonna lose The freight train blues. - Bob Dylan...

Old Salina Flour Mills

Old Salina Flour Mills

Salina, KansasWhen we were young and troublesome, Dad worked at the mill just beyond the green rail car. Some days we'd ride with Mom to drop off a sack lunch for him. It was always exciting to seem him come through one of the big doors and walk down the board walk...

Return of the Mantis

Return of the Mantis

Here he is again, mugging in front of a blackeyed susan, and he brought friends. Here's a quick sampling of critters busy in my yard this month. There are LOTS of grasshoppers too. I still don't know what this is, but I'm looking for some kind of identification....

Escheresque Stairway

Escheresque Stairway

The United Building, Salina, Kansas - When I was growing up in Salina, this was (and still is) the closest thing to a skyscraper in the town. It's only 10 stories tall but it towers above the surrounding buildings. Plus it had a very cool classic elevator, with an...

Butler County Courthouse

Butler County Courthouse

Eldorado,KansasContructed, 1909, in the Romanesque style using limestone, brick and ceramic tile, this is another George P. Washburn courthouse. The Ottawa based architect designed 13 of our state courthouses. The building is open to self-guided tours during normal...