Native Prairie Planting - Growth Over Time
These photos show an entryway roadside planting project over its first 5 years as it is getting established. Nora Springs participated in Community Visioning in 2002, planning a number of projects, including enhancing the entryways, which was their top prioritized project. They raised funds and completed the new sign in 2005. They also applied to the Iowa's Living Roadways Projects Program in December, 2004, and planted late fall, 2005. The first photo was taken in November, 2005 just after planting. The second photo was taken in 2006, where the seeding basically looks like mowed grass as you would expect in a first year prairie planting. In July, 2007, the next photo, some of the early pioneer species like yellow coneflowers are present. In the final shot, taken in 2009, more species are present and especially prominent is the large-flowered beard’s tongue. A key message that these photos tell us is that establishing prairie takes time – there is more activity and growth going on underground in the first few years than above ground. With patience and maintenance when needed in the early years, a community can enjoy a showy low maintenance planting for many years to come with the use of native prairie plants.
November 2005 - Just After Planting