NW Missouri Times

The Missouri Prairie Foundation recently awarded Northwest Missouri State University a grant to plant a native prairie flower garden near the Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation. Northwest was chosen to receive $800 in funding for native plants and seeds from the foundation.

The mission of the Missouri Prairie Foundation is to protect and restore prairie and other native grassland communities through land acquisition, management, education, and research while promoting the use of native plants and supporting the control of invasive species.

Landscaping staff at Northwest have planted a variety of native plants near the Hubbard Center to help beautify the area and attract pollinators. The new garden is located south of the Hubbard Center.

“It will take time for the perennials to become established so hopefully we’ll really see the benefits in future years with many diverse and colorful blossoms,” said Northwest Sustainability Coordinator Tim Hill.

Northwest’s landscaping staff planted various native plants, including species of milkweed, blazing star, aster, and goldenrod. These plants will bloom at different times of year, extending the area’s beauty. The plants will also attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees.

“We hope the prairie garden becomes an educational tool for the campus community to learn about those species that were present in northwest Missouri for hundreds, if not thousands, of years,” Hill added.

The garden adds to Northwest’s long history of investing in sustainability initiatives. It joins two pollinator plots southwest of the Hubbard Center and north of the Wellness Center that are not mowed, thus reducing gas and diesel use for maintenance.

“We recycle and we compost food waste from the Union,” Hill said. “Facility Services has completed LED light retrofitting in many buildings to reduce our energy use. We try to reduce our water use whenever possible, and the campus itself is the Missouri Arboretum.”

Hill continued: “When I saw the opportunity for the grant from the Missouri Prairie Foundation to establish plantings focused on native prairie species, I thought it made perfect sense to try to secure the grant to establish a garden.”

The garden remains in development. When finished, it will include signage with information about plant life as well as online resources.