If you are looking to add some pops of color to a prairie or open forest understory planting, consider nodding microseris. This cute little perennial has bright yellow ray flowers and minimal foliage, giving the flowers the appearance of floating in and among bunchgrasses (or wherever you put it). 
 
Its preferred habitat is forest openings, and it is drought tolerant and perfectly happy with partial or bright shade. It blooms in early summer, and it must bridge a gap between many of the spring and later bloomers, because I find myself noticing it everywhere during that time. 
 
This is a versatile plant, but here are some companion ideas: field chickweed, pinegrass, wilcox penstemon, prairie smoke, any pussytoes, and rough fescue.