City hall landscaping doubles as rain garden

A
Like all LRTF-funded plantings, the new landscaping in front of West Okoboji's city hall uses native plants to reduce maintenance, provide habitat, and offer educational opportunities. The West Okoboji planting also serves as a rain garden, collecting runoff from the building and parking lot. By reducing runoff, rain gardens help prevent erosion and flooding. The LRTF will help the city of West Okoboji expand its planting this summer, by funding the addition of upland prairie plants and oak trees.
 

  
 
 
Roadside Opportunities
The native grasses and wildflowers of Iowa’s original prairie landscape are well-adapted for use on roadsides. Hardy and beautiful, native roadsides offer aesthetic, economic, environmental, and educational opportunities. Establishing prairie plants in roadside rights-of-way:
 
  • provides low-maintenance weed and erosion control
  • reduces surface runoff and erosion by improving infiltration
  • reduces snow drifting and winter glare
  • ensures sustainability by increasing species diversity
  • enhances wildlife habitat
  • beautifies the landscape by providing
    ever changing color and texture
    throughout the year
  • preserves our natural heritage

Support Iowa's Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program

The state of Iowa invests in the enhancement and protection of its natural and cultural resources through REAP. The annual REAP appropriation is set by the legislature, and is supplemented by sales of natural resource license plates. The Living Roadway Trust Fund is one of many beneficiaries of the program.  Iowa citizens are the biggest beneficiaries, and have several opportunities to ensure REAP's success. Visit REAP to learn more, or click the license plate for information about purchasing natural resource plates.
 
 
Click here to view this native Iowa plant life.
  Scientific Name:
    Amelanchier laevis

  Common Name:
    Allegheny Serviceberry

  Height:
    15-40'

  Bloom Month:
    Apr

  Bloom Color:
    White


Support conservation!
Profits from the Iowa Nature Store go to state park improvements. From now until Jan. 31, 2010, use discount
code REAP for great deals.
 

2009 Iowa Wildflower Calendar