Welcome to my “Following the Prairie” article, offering awareness and a look into what Iowa once was. The plants and scenes you are seeing are just a small piece of what was once called a “sea of grasses and flowers” that covered nearly all of Iowa. The photos offering this glimpse are from a prairie remnant along the great western tail in Cumming, Iowa. This prairie has long history of being along a railroad track, which spared it from receiving the plow. This is a rare view into Iowa’s past because 95% of the prairie was destroyed when farming took over the state, and once gone, it can never be brought back to the way it was. Diversity is a huge thing in prairie remnants in one square foot of the prairie you could easily find at least 20 different species of plants, and most of these plants you can only find in a prairie remnant such as this, which is why some of the plants found are endangered species.

This week in the prairie, you can find lots of different flowers (at least 9 species) joining last weeks flowers. I walk by weekly, and each time I walk by, there is a new flower blooming. Grasses are now growing fast, making it appear very lush, and we will soon be heading towards next season, summer. The above flowers are the Prairie Phlox which have started to bloom alongside the orange Pacoon flowers, making a beautiful combination. Nature has created a perfect “garden.” You will notice a net look in the prairie this week as Warren County Conservation, as a part of a restoration program, has mowed down all the dogwood/invasive trees that was taking over this prairie before preservation of these lands became important and management programs were started in this area.

Here is a picture of a beautiful Wild Strawberry in bloom. These will produce actual strawberries that can be eaten. They are much smaller than store-bought berries and are about the size of a dime. They are very good, but you have to get them fast because birds love them! The berries develop in June.

You really have to get close to appreciate some of the different flowers. This Yellow Star Grass is only 6″ tall, and a person walking by would not notice unless you really took the time to stop and look. This could be a nice reminder to “stop and smell the roses,” so to speak.

I am discovering so many new flowers while taking photos that I have not yet been able to identify them all! This will likely continue to be an issued as I have learned there can be thousands of different plants in a remnant like this. This concludes this weeks issue of “Follow The Prairie,” expect near weekly updates to continue as there will be new ones to see all summer/fall long!