The yellow star lily is another of Anderson Prairie Park's hidden gems. This tiny plant might typically go unnoticed, except that it blooms in early summer before its taller and showier prairie brethren take over.

Prairie researchers often try to determine a site's biodiversity by using the "quadrat" method. They lay a square wooden frame

down on a section of prairie and count every plant species within its borders.

While we don't expect those on nature walks to go to all this trouble, the concept of stopping to study a small area may give additional insight into a prairie's biodiversity. It may help you to discover more gems like the yellow star lily. It is also known as yellow star grass.