Gardening / Prairie Resources

The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund

The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund created a new guide with step-by-step instructions and examples of how to produce great pollinator habitat. The guide will provide specific insights on Site Preparation, Seed Mixture Design, Planting Methods, Planting Timing, Future Management, Determining your Projects Objectives and more!
This free guide is available as a PDF download from their website at: https://www.beeandbutterflyfund.org/habitat-guide.html.  

Iowa Master Gardener Program

Need gardening advice? To get helpful advice and tips, visit:
http://www.mastergardener.iastate.edu/

Iowa Prairie Network

The Iowa Prairie Network is all volunteer, non-profit (501c3) organization started in 1990.  We are a network of people dedicated to the preservation of our prairie heritage in the state of Iowa.
http://www.iowaprairienetwork.org

Monarch Gardens

Native plant profiles, garden design articles, pictures, environmental news, and much more.
We help DIY homeowners, schools, and small businesses choose native prairie plants adapted to your landscape for ease of maintenance and maximum wildlife draw. Whether it’s walking your garden with you, performing light maintenance, or working up a landscape plan, we promise a thriving native plant landscape that gives you four seasons of life and beauty.
http://monarchgard.com/index.html

National Wildlife Federation: Garden for Wildlife

Check the Eco Region Keystone Host Plant Lists from Dr. Doug Tallamy and pollinator conservationist, Jarrod Fowler. These native plants are critical to the food web as they support higher numbers of wildlife species completing their life cycle. Without keystone plants in the landscape, butterflies, native bees, and birds will not thrive.
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Resources/guides

NatiVeg

NatiVeg is an online database that aids in native plant selection for your location.  Simply type in the address of where your garden will be, the primary purpose of your garden (such as wildlife or pollinators), and you will receive a list of native species that suit your area and intended purpose.  It's that easy!
www.quailcount.org/NatiVeg

Plant Iowa Natives

Plant Iowa Natives works to promote, educate, and create awareness of the use of native plants for horticultural, conservation, and habitat-improvement across Iowa. It is managed by the Tallgrass Prairie Center at UNI.
http://plantiowanative.com