From Dave Wedin, professor of plant and ecosystem ecology, and director of Nine-Mile Prairie

Join us at UNL’s Nine-Mile Prairie on Saturday, Sept.10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., to watch the 2011 Lincoln air show. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy the dramatic vista of the airport and downtown Lincoln from the prairie. We’re two miles from the airport runway, but don’t worry – the Blue Angels and other military aircraft will definitely be loud enough to impress you. You can also enjoy naturalist-led hikes on our five miles of trails, take a wagon ride across the prairie, and help us collect prairie seeds. Nine-Mile Prairie is normally closed to mountain bikes, but we will have an electrifying (thanks to LES) two-mile mountain bike trail open that day. And to finish your day of military airpower and tallgrass prairies, you can learn about the historic Strategic Air Command nuclear bomb bunkers on the Lincoln Airport Authority’s land just north of Nine-Mile Prairie. Everything is free, but you will need to bring your own snacks and drinking water. Check the Nine-Mile Prairie’s web site (http://snr.unl.edu/9mp) after Labor Day for more details and a downloadable flier.