Portrait of a Landscape: Seasons

Experience Kansas Nature at its Finest

“Portrait Of A Landscape: Seasons” is a visual masterpiece taking viewers on a journey through the diverse landscapes of Kansas, in all seasons of the year. We feature prairie fires, native wildlife, pollen-seeking insects, rock outcroppings, chalky limestone left by ancient seas, waves of golden wheat, dramatic weather, croplands and the most beautiful sunsets over the intense and serene landscapes of Kansas.

Utilizing a variety of production techniques and technologies, including time-lapse and drone, macro and wide lenses; the Portrait of a Landscape production team is busy traveling the entire state of Kansas capturing beautiful and stunning Kansas displays, including Monument Rocks, the Arikaree Breaks, Little Jerusalem, the Flint Hills, several Kansas lakes, including Scott Lake and Lake Wilson, Pillsbury Crossing, Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Cottonwood Falls, the annual Spring burning of the prairie, the Kansas River, the Smoky Hills, Gypsum Hills, sunflower fields, Rock City, and so much more.

The soundtrack for “Portrait of a Landscape: Seasons” features original compositions by U.S. composers, including the gifted Composer/Arranger and Violinist/Violist, Stuart Carlson, as well as Classical and New Age Pianist, Daniel Mangiaracino.

Portrait of a Landscape: Seasons will mesmerize audiences nationwide and will create wonder and curiosity, watching our beautiful state of Kansas in a way they have never seen before. We always hear about the false perceptions that Kansas is flat and boring. This series debunks these myths and we can’t wait to share this visual journey with PBS viewers across the nation.

Program Sponsors

PORTER CATTLE CO.
CAROL JORY FOUNDATION

Evelyn L. Davis

Gordon Kauffman

OFG Financial Services

David Orr

Alice Eberhart-Wright & Lee Wright

Amber Waves

Wednesday, August 16

Amber Waves

“Amber Waves”, featuring the maturity of Kansas crops, the majestic sunsets settling the heat of the day, and the beautiful sunflowers that begin dotting the landscape at the end of summer. We feature dramatic colors that dot our landscape…amber waves of grain, vivid green corn and soybeans, and the stunning rust color of milo as it is ready for harvest; as well as wildflowers and impressive landscapes in Arikaree Breaks and stunning sunsets in Smoky Hills and western Kansas regions.

Sundown

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The summer sun is sinking low;
Only the tree-tops redden and glow:
Only the weathercock on the spire
Of the neighboring church is a flame of fire;
      All is in shadow below.

O beautiful, awful summer day,
What hast thou given, what taken away?
Life and death, and love and hate,
Homes made happy or desolate,
      Hearts made sad or gay!

On the road of life one mile-stone more!
In the book of life one leaf turned o’er!
Like a red seal is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done,–
     Naught can to-day restore!

Winds of Renewal

Aired March 8

Winds of Renewal

“Winds of Renewal” features the stunning renewal of life among the Kansas landscape. And we can’t forget the Kansas wind, making the prairie fires, insects and arrival of Kansas crops dance with new life. In this episode, we feature Kansas’ renewal through the controlled burns dotting the prairie landscapes of Kansas, and new life in Rock City and Baker Wetlands.

Spring

By John Clare

What charms does Nature at the spring put on,
When hedges unperceived get stain’d in green;
When even moss, that gathers on the stone,
Crown’d with its little knobs of flowers is seen;
And every road and lane, through field and glen,
Triumphant boasts a garden of its own.
In spite of nipping sheep, and hungry cow,
The little daisy finds a place to blow:
And where old Winter leaves her splashy slough,
The lady-smocks will not disdain to grow;
And dandelions like to suns will bloom,
Aside some bank or hillock creeping low;–
Though each too often meets a hasty doom
From trampling clowns, who heed not where they go

Prairie Winter

Aired NOVEMBER 30th

Prairie Winter

“Prairie Winter” features Kansas in its dramatic winter glory. In this episode, we feature Kansas’ beautiful, serene winter in the snowy and frozen landscapes, including Pillsbury Crossing, Cottonwood Falls, and Monument Rocks.

The Snow-Blossoms

By Clark Ashton Smith

But yestereve the winter trees
Reared leafless, blackly bare,
Their twigs and branches poignant-marked
Upon the sunset-flare.

White-petaled, opens now the dawn,
And in its pallid glow,
Revealed, each leaf-lorn, barren tree
Stands white with flowers of snow.

Flights of Color

Aired November 27

Flights of Color

“Flights of Color” takes us on an aerial journey through the spectacular beauty of Kansas in autumn. We feature the waning sunflowers and wildflowers, changing colors of our trees and Kansas landscapes, and the sunsets that start arriving earlier each day with the impending winter. In this episode, we weave our drone through the dense colorful foliage in locations including Atchison, Manhattan, Garnett, KS and make a visit to Castle Rock and Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park.

Fall, Leaves, Fall

By Emily Bronte

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night’s decay

Nature

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Boon Nature yields each day a brag which we now first behold,
And trains us on to slight the new, as if it were the old:
But blest is he, who, playing deep, yet haply asks not why,
Too busied with the crowded hour to fear to live or die

Series Media

Portrait of a Landscape: Prairie Winter (Long Tease)

Portrait of a Landscape: Prairie Winter (60 second Tease)