Native Prairie Plants to the Rescue
Plant a garden that supports pollinators and promotes clean water.
By Myriam Lafreniere-Landry, Project Coordinator, Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District
I love Iowa Springs. I am excited to see our pollinator garden sprout after a long winter. A few years back, we expanded the existing flowerbeds around our office and planted several hundred plugs of native prairie plants to replace the dying shrubs and perennials. To my surprise, these tiny seedlings grew amazingly fast, and the following summer, the garden burst with colorful flowers and elegant grasses. With the native plants came a host of bees in every color, scores of butterflies, and numerous other insects and birds, including a couple of bunnies and fawns. It’s a fascinating sight that never gets old.
Iowa was once covered by millions of acres of prairie. The rarefication of the prairie ecosystem has impacted the animals, birds, and insects that call it home. Less prairie on the landscape also means more erosion and water quality issues. But prairie plants don’t have to be restricted to wildlife refuges and roadsides. Why not invite the prairie into your backyard?
Native plants are the bee’s knees! They adapt perfectly to Iowa’s climate, require minimal care once established, and can fend off local pests and diseases. Native plants have deep roots that reduce erosion, build soil structure, and absorb rainfall. And, of course, bees love them!
Planting native plants instead of exotic ornamental species can make your garden buzz with life. There are hundreds of beautiful flowers and grasses to choose from, including coneflower, blazing star, bluestem, nodding onion, and prairie smoke. Moreover, there are species adapted to every condition, dry or wet soil, sunny or shaded area, tall or short. Your little patch of prairie can be seeded to recreate the natural prairie messiness or planted for a more traditional landscaped look.
One of the many superpowers of prairie plants is their ability to infiltrate rainfall. Rain gardens are usually planted with native plants to make them more efficient. A rain garden is a depression that promotes rainfall infiltration by intercepting runoff from impervious areas such as parking or roofs. Water moves down through the soil to become groundwater flow. Once filtered by the soil, clean groundwater feeds and maintains rivers, streams, wetlands, and lakes.
Are you ready for a yard makeover? The Green Iowa AmeriCorps-Mahaska County can help you plan, design and install your rain garden or pollinator garden for free. You can even get reimbursed up to 75% for purchasing the plants and other material. This program operates thanks to financial contributions from community members, and donations are welcome to continue its growth. For more details, visit the Natural Resources Conservation Services office at 2503 Todd Street, Oskaloosa, or call 641-673-3476.
