By Linda Schreiber

Dubuque County’s Mowing to Monarchs initiative was the first program in Iowa to champion small native plant gardens – pocket prairies or prairie meadows – and since 2020, the effort has blossomed into more than 300 sites.

After Johnson County Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglas attended a county conference in Dubuque, she brought the idea home. From there, it took root in the Department of Planning, Development & Sustainability (PDS). Now in its second year, Johnson County’s Pocket Prairie Program (PPP) is flourishing. Linn County quickly followed, and together the two counties have welcomed nearly 400 participating households since the programs launched in 2024.

The rise of pocket prairies marks a meaningful transition toward acknowledging the significance of citizen action in contributing to ecologically vibrant and valuable landscapes. Native plants offer benefits turfgrass can’t match: improved habitat, richer soil, cleaner water, and dramatically better support for pollinators, birds, and home-grown food – bringing Nature home.

Kasey Hutchinson, Johnson County’s Environmental Regulations Coordinator and PPP administrator, notes that the program – open to residents in unincorporated areas – was designed with those advantages in mind. To support first-time prairie planters, Hutchinson enlisted me, in my role as a Master Gardener, to create clear, useful materials for participants. Together, plant lists for sunny, shady, and wet locations, along with considering bloom times, colors, heights, root structures, moisture, and soil needs, were created. An inspection guide and an orientation program were also designed.

PDS partners with the Johnson County Conservation Department’s supplier to provide the plants free to program participants. Each household receives a curated set of native species tailored to fill a 10-by-10-foot plot. After an in-person orientation, PDS staff and a team of eight MGs visit each property to ensure the site is prepared so that planting can begin in the spring.

The stakes are high: the decline of pollinators threatens Iowa’s expanding local food system. Pocket prairies, even in urban settings, bolster ecological resilience and encourage thoughtful, healthy agricultural practices.

Participants in the inaugural class reported seeing more pollinators this past summer and said the experience has been deeply rewarding. Organizers hope participants will pay it forward by sharing their knowledge and experience to help keep Pocket Prairies communities growing.

Still, broader adoption isn’t without hurdles. Even as counties and cities embrace native plantings, some urban homeowner associations’ rules prohibit prairie-style landscapes. Several states – including Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Colorado, New Jersey, and Maryland – have already passed legislation ensuring residents can plant native species. Advocates hope Iowa won’t be far behind.

JCMG Inspection Team
Sara Bright
Kara Frankman
Kathy Hall
Lisa Haverkamp
Brandi Janssen
Roger Jensen
Joyce Miller
Linda Schreiber

JCMG Pocket Prairie Participants
Sharon Jeter
Mary Starry
Joel Wells