(AP) — Lincoln’s parks and medians are awash in dandelions.

And Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Johnston says the drought is to blame for the yellow sea covering once-green expanses.

He says that in many spots, park grass is dead or sparse. That lets weeds thrive.

Park staffers didn’t apply weed killer in the fall because it requires moisture to work properly. And little herbicide is applied in spring because it can drift to neighboring lawns and gardens.

The department plans to spread grass seed on nonirrigated parkland in late summer and apply weed killer in early fall.