https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-11-07 https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/highlights-of-this-years-prairie-restorations-in-ames monthly 0.5 2026-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/a409de76-9c5a-4a66-9b9e-100f6878d864/IMG_1165.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames - Here is a mix of switchgrass, rye, big bluestem, and indiangrass towering overhead. This picture really embodies the goal of any prairie mix—if we “snapshot” the prairie we ideally want to see at least three grasses in each snapshot rather than a total takeover (switchgrass, I’m talking to you!). There are as many ways to restore prairies as there is prairies out there, but in general, pictures like this are the prairie reconstruction goal! This prairie is six years old, so these grasses are STRONG! And to top it off this was one of those perfect 70 degree days we had in October. Doesn’t get better than that! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1958d398-42a9-45aa-955b-207d9e1acf86/IMG_1100.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames - I had such amazing spotted horsemint blooms this year! This plant ALWAYS stops me in my tracks and is one of the reasons I’m one of those people with 50,000 pictures on my phone (I know, I know, at this point I’m too far gone and can’t go back), I contributed several hundred this year to all the spotted horsemint blooms. The leaves, the shapes, the colors! Its perfect! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/38b5f271-f1a0-4e9e-861f-9ca84b8ff335/IMG_1097.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/abfc1bae-af9d-499d-a91f-1c085eeeea3d/IMG_0785.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames - Another highlight of my Ames projects was Lobelia this year. I’ve never seen Great Blue Lobelia grow so prolifically! ALL of my sites I had planted it on showed up, even my younger projects (1-2 years old) had Lobelia. While there is absolutely a huge component of restoration that relies on the textbook knowledge of plants and where they like to grow, there also is a component of learning by experience how different plants are trending given the rainfall, sun, heat, soil balance or degradation, etc etc. I keep a big ol’ notebook in my car and make notes on things like this during the growing season so that in the winter I enter it all into a excel sheet about each plant. I always repeat the silly phrase “I’m not God,” when I’m consulting/designing a project. Its obvious and its just so true — I can’t always predict how things will go, but, after so many years of detailed notes and trial & error, I’ve been able to hone in on getting beautiful results on my projects and get homeowners/private landowners “prairie” looking results sooner without having to do the classic two years of mowing weeds thing. Thanks Lobelia for keeping customers and pollinators happy this year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/a8cfe85b-144e-4298-b607-7fad8cd20efc/IMG_0787.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames Great Blue Lobelia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/a38b3027-ace4-483b-a590-a20562c003dd/IMG_0769.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames - Gentians were another show stopper in Ames this year, and I’m currently doing rounds to make sure a third of the seed gets collected and put down for next year! Gentians have been doing well the past few years on my projects, this year was no different other than the blooms stuck around a bit longer (which is a total gift!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/dc5e307b-bd17-4da4-b084-7d2ad49f8ecc/IMG_0772.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames Closed Gentians https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/c8066d9e-14c5-477a-95e8-57aeb647509c/IMG_1161.jpeg Blog - Highlights of This Year’s Prairie Restorations in Ames - I have two different types of questions regarding yellow blooms each year. Where did all the yellow color go? or Why is my prairie so yellow? And I got both of those questions in Ames this year. Even though rainfall totals were the same, it just goes to show how dynamic the prairie ecosystem is. Often the younger projects lean really yellow and it balances out as the grasses establish and other colored plants gain their footing. Some years are better for yellows than others, but thats the joy of it—no two years are ever the same on the prairie, which makes my job even more fun :) https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/restoring-woodland-understory monthly 0.5 2025-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/41ac4a18-5de8-48e1-883b-8ef7d5e0c8fb/14620215420_2206ba3927_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Woodland Understory - Make it stand out Photo by Carl Wycoff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/5984282a-12a9-4f26-8ab1-394dd42ae96e/52547164794_596c93782e_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Woodland Understory - Make it stand out Coralberry plant, offering great food in winter for songbirds and deer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/492dc9bb-828d-424c-a2a6-9e1d72ed06c0/37019340216_ae8ebd5be0_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Woodland Understory - Make it stand out Jacobs Ladder, a common native https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/cd2baced-0b58-43ba-a8dd-573e06e8a889/14519936141_4741417621_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Woodland Understory - Make it stand out Milkwort, a beautiful native pink flower. Photo by Joshua Mayer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/2aa1cb51-4cbe-4ce0-9060-c2ffe2511df4/5796718285_cd2564c971_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Woodland Understory - Make it stand out Wild ginger; photo by Ron Frazier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/c123e3e8-416a-4ad6-90f2-6c7e047250bf/3623925502_3facaf8188_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Woodland Understory - Make it stand out Cinnamon fern https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/biodiversity-benefits-of-beaver-in-iowa monthly 0.5 2025-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/6f4204cf-1959-4f4e-8932-34b18dea1c4e/14493528271_7724a04cf0_c.jpg Blog - Biodiversity Benefits of Beaver in Iowa - Make it stand out Dakota skipper on Echinacea pallida. Photo by Eric Runquist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/141d6fee-ef59-4cdf-9c95-347aebea53e7/50972031527_c98e63c78c_c.jpg Blog - Biodiversity Benefits of Beaver in Iowa - Make it stand out Beaver crawling through plant debris. Photo by Deborah Freeman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/fbea8fda-eeec-4fce-a767-99448ee72ee4/28082250478_7e48e0efb4_c.jpg Blog - Biodiversity Benefits of Beaver in Iowa - Make it stand out Wood duck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/0535cd44-c63d-4d26-99ce-c894cc1c089e/DSC_1410.JPG Blog - Biodiversity Benefits of Beaver in Iowa - Make it stand out Beaver dam and the resulting pond https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/9cc680b6-3eb1-4d9c-9298-d4ed86bb0e64/4833166062_d5ef49a481_c.jpg Blog - Biodiversity Benefits of Beaver in Iowa - Make it stand out A beaver swimming across its pond https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/e05df20a-3637-4c45-bfd8-73fcc54d613e/Human+Beaver+Coexistance+Fund.png Blog - Biodiversity Benefits of Beaver in Iowa - Make it stand out Human Beaver Coexistence Fund graphic https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/8-prairie-flowers-to-find-in-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/87bc4a54-1785-40ea-9210-4d4e6eec169a/IMG_3545.jpg Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - Cream Gentian Gentiana flavida I love finding this beautiful, unique plant. It likes to nest within the grasses, making it a part-shade lover. It doesn’t grow nearly as tall as its neighboring grasses and is easy to trample over when walking through the prairie if you aren’t careful. Gentians offer exclusive access to their pollen to bumble bees, who have the perfect anatomy to creep into the top opening of the flowers. These petals don’t open—they stay folded up, protecting the pollen and seeds all season long. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/9fa46167-b845-4da1-9c5f-8bd3605d94e9/IMG_2954.jpg Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - Spotted Beebalm Monarda punctata This plant smells so good, and pollinators know it because I have never stopped by this plant and not seen at least one pollinator hovering nearby. Spotted Beebalm, also called Horsemint, is a well known medicinal plant. High in thymol, this makes it have anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/e90a04e3-c8b6-429f-ba51-f733947b75d7/DSC_1359.JPG Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - Wild Quinine Parthenium integrifolium Known in the herbal community as feverfew, this plant was used to help treat malaria in World War I. It often stays out of the ‘prairie limelight’ and isn’t always the first plant someone will know or see when they peruse through a prairie. It thrives and blooms in the hottest, most humid time of the year. I often only find it in groups of one, two, or three, making it more elusive than some of the taller flowers the prairie offers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/af68f29c-ed0d-4269-8dd7-82607f931d9d/DSC_1423.JPG Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - Blue Vervain Verbena hastata Another pollinator favorite, this unique-looking plant offers small and dainty purple flowers. One of my clients has a strong patch of this near her honeybee boxes—boy, do the bees love this! I can always find the honeybees here and take a pause to watch them do their thing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/cf00d2aa-34e4-4a1c-9966-cb7cbee94b90/DSC_1456.JPG Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - White Wild Indigo Baptisia alba I took this picture a little too late in the season, so the flowers are past, so just the seed pods remain. The flowers are white and vibrant on this wide bushy plant, reminding me sometimes of Foxglove flowers. This is a larval host plant to several native butterflies to Iowa, making it a place where I can almost always find a caterpillar in the summer! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/53c441d4-87b6-400a-810c-da624a05c036/DSC_1309.JPG Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - White Sage Artemisia ludoviciana Texture, color, and fragrance are three of many things White Sage brings to a prairie or landscape area. This super aromatic plant is rabbit and deer-resistant and soft to the touch. It has fuzzy, milky white leaves and also offers a variety of medicinal properties used by Native Americans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/986c3cb9-4e91-4fa6-b372-675cdf949aef/DSC_1975.JPG Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea Probably one of the first flowers you will see in the spring, this low-growing yellow bloom is often mistaken with Wild Parsnip, which often blooms a bit later. Parsnip grows much taller and Golden Alexanders have a sharper leaf shape. I can assure you this plant is much safer and won’t leave your hands with blisters (just be sure it isn’t Wild Parsnip, first!). This is a host plant for the well-loved Swallowtail Butterfly and is a great seed to mix into erosion/hillside projects as it has a robust root system to help hold soil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/ff8e3545-a103-4115-ae46-c0b0993f836b/DSC_0990.JPG Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times before: butterfly milkweed is a host plant for the monarchs! But ALSO important: it’s orange! There aren’t many orange flowers on the prairie, and this one staying lower and nested creates such a beautiful, scenic feel amongst the taller blooms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/461541cd-74c1-495d-85df-871d733092bc/DSC_2024.JPG Blog - 8 Prairie Wildflowers to Find in 2025 - Good luck finding the beautiful blooms. Bring a friend with you to enjoy the prairie! https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/the-wild-parsnip-problem-how-this-invasive-species-impacts-iowas-tallgrass-ecosystem monthly 0.5 2025-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/24f6372e-58d2-48fa-8997-7b89bb27fa53/5855487584_a2cfb20352_c.jpg Blog - The Wild Parsnip Problem: How This Invasive Species Impacts Iowa's Tallgrass Ecosystem - Make it stand out Pastinaca sativa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/bb47f174-6abf-4ba2-abdf-cf701c464cc6/8752146008_ee0bcdd771_c.jpg Blog - The Wild Parsnip Problem: How This Invasive Species Impacts Iowa's Tallgrass Ecosystem - Make it stand out Dodecatheon meadia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/3d5bfe4a-2e82-4185-8bee-e2065ee57b19/5146416826_3c9aeffd59_c.jpg Blog - The Wild Parsnip Problem: How This Invasive Species Impacts Iowa's Tallgrass Ecosystem - Make it stand out Silphium laciniatum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/985bcfea-bb3f-4544-844f-6d5e80cba6e6/14572071725_8965dbf1a6_c.jpg Blog - The Wild Parsnip Problem: How This Invasive Species Impacts Iowa's Tallgrass Ecosystem - Make it stand out Female Dolichonyx oryzivorus by Andrew Cannizzaro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/0948781f-ba61-4cb2-b79e-955d4fae2966/51881728706_da14ee0d75_c.jpg Blog - The Wild Parsnip Problem: How This Invasive Species Impacts Iowa's Tallgrass Ecosystem - Make it stand out Pastinaca sativa https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/the-threat-of-invasive-species-like-leafy-spurge-on-prairie-skinks-in-iowa monthly 0.5 2025-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/5768fdbc-b5bd-4492-97da-2e80a71a7064/51139784500_ff74149a69_c.jpg Blog - The Threat of Invasive Species Like Leafy Spurge on Prairie Skinks in Iowa - Make it stand out Image by Peter Paplanus https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/76afada9-c136-4d6d-94c1-be75c25b721a/41124852374_ee30554f81_c.jpg Blog - The Threat of Invasive Species Like Leafy Spurge on Prairie Skinks in Iowa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/9ef87dae-eaed-44c0-bcc6-1c1742f0d2ed/28533281404_dda3159799_c.jpg Blog - The Threat of Invasive Species Like Leafy Spurge on Prairie Skinks in Iowa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/restoring-iowas-prairies-for-wildlife-and-pollinators-monarchs-dickcissels-and-prairie-skinks monthly 0.5 2024-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/715f5e81-fd38-423e-8599-3725874712d1/9284702254_634304675b_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Iowa’s Prairies for Wildlife and Pollinators: Monarchs, Dickcissels, and Prairie Skinks - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/09750bec-c12e-4641-8da7-28dc0acba1e6/49292697107_020f9fb06d_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Iowa’s Prairies for Wildlife and Pollinators: Monarchs, Dickcissels, and Prairie Skinks - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/4c23c565-78ab-491d-911d-23c7c2637847/51903360281_4c08b43bbf_c.jpg Blog - Restoring Iowa’s Prairies for Wildlife and Pollinators: Monarchs, Dickcissels, and Prairie Skinks - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/99ec71ca-2d54-499f-a1c0-330c116b2a65/map.png Blog - Restoring Iowa’s Prairies for Wildlife and Pollinators: Monarchs, Dickcissels, and Prairie Skinks - Make it stand out This map from IowaHerps.com shows which counties prairie skinks have been located in! https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/lessons-in-prairie-restoration-pella-ia monthly 0.5 2024-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/e09ffa4e-3598-45de-8945-0f5a651c91ca/lr-1.jpg Blog - Lessons in Prairie Restoration: Pella, IA - Beautiful black swallowtail caterpillar near several Black Eyed Susan stems. This little guy was one of several I found this year on this prairie! It’s hard not to drop everything and watch them inch along the stem or take a snack. He was SO CUTE! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/8126abe2-ddcd-4079-9563-c370e47d2133/lr-2.jpg Blog - Lessons in Prairie Restoration: Pella, IA - Make it stand out Same black swallowtail caterpillar, different angle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/5f5fea59-6ee2-422f-844b-7ebd0f0ec1b5/unnamed.jpg Blog - Lessons in Prairie Restoration: Pella, IA - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/b006c7bd-5d76-41a5-a39d-b76ccf5103df/lr-3.jpg Blog - Lessons in Prairie Restoration: Pella, IA - Bright purple Ironweed beginning to bloom. The sea of Queen Anne’s lace behind it was one of the first things I tackled after the plant survey to begin this project in 2022. We went about it with a mix of strategically timed mowing and spraying, and this season (two years later) there was a 80% significant decrease of Queen Anne’s Lace! Instead the area is now filled with a good diversity of native grasses and flowers. Despite scouring my phone looking for a picture from this season, I couldn’t find one—so I found this one from “before” instead. I’ll have to post another blog with the before and after. :-) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/de32e976-969b-4b97-bd19-a1489d783747/lr4.jpg Blog - Lessons in Prairie Restoration: Pella, IA - Dazzling red columbine weaving through the grasses. Because this prairie edges on the creek, we are now focusing on removing incoming Reed Canary Grass and stabilizing the bank with native shrubs like elderberry, nannyberry, and tree plantings. With yearly touch-up over-seedings, I always end the season excited to see what other fun flowers will show their face the next year. https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/lessons-in-prairie-restoration-nevada-ia monthly 0.5 2026-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/fda02c7d-795d-4dc2-9516-a8abeb7959a5/DSC_1290.JPG Blog - Prairie Restoration: Nevada, IA - Dalea purpurea The five acre existing CRP area was relatively low in diversity, but had strong stands of purple prairie clover, showy goldenrod, indian grass, big bluestem, and round-headed bush clover. I hadn’t worked on a prairie with such an impressive purple prairie clover (shown) stand before, so it was important to me as I went about getting the cedars under control, to maintain the purple prairie clover stand while diversifying the other flowers and colors surrounding it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/70abfcec-05d4-45b9-a3a5-7caad021210a/DSC_1308.JPG Blog - Prairie Restoration: Nevada, IA - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/starting-your-backyard-prairie-fall-tips monthly 0.5 2024-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/bb326d5d-dbaf-474c-ae18-640e662ea4bc/DSC_1445.JPG Blog - Starting Your DIY Backyard Prairie: Fall Tips - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1731686358059-JQJ1M41F84FC2S6ZE3WT/DSC_2091.JPG Blog - Starting Your DIY Backyard Prairie: Fall Tips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1731686358047-3RMAS17SHK2MAU1GSRN3/DSC_2115.JPG Blog - Starting Your DIY Backyard Prairie: Fall Tips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1731686364076-MX88FTHFD6HS5XGN32R0/DSC_2123.JPG Blog - Starting Your DIY Backyard Prairie: Fall Tips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1731686365190-EHXUFXI3XHVUI27Q64G3/DSC_2155.JPG Blog - Starting Your DIY Backyard Prairie: Fall Tips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1731686368408-D9OFF3IVE9PQ9I4C3G5D/DSC_2174.JPG Blog - Starting Your DIY Backyard Prairie: Fall Tips https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/blog/beaver-dam-analogs-in-iowa monthly 0.5 2024-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/f08d831f-4aab-4d53-9dea-38201d14f5d5/beaver+graphic.jpg Blog - Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA): A Hands-On Approach to Iowa Steam Restoration - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/94c4978c-fe3a-405d-a22e-23f4d46c4efb/beaver11.JPG Blog - Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA): A Hands-On Approach to Iowa Steam Restoration - One of Gordon’s BDA’s (now maintained by beavers) in the winter. As you can see, beavers are great at weaving sticks in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/335683d9-45ef-4183-827b-eafa81c9b23f/dam+%281%29.jpg Blog - Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA): A Hands-On Approach to Iowa Steam Restoration https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/about daily 0.75 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/4d61a9ca-9230-4487-9d71-95918f4ce58e/paige+rousseau About - Hi, I’m Paige. In 2017, I graduated from Iowa State University with my degree in Animal Ecology. In 2021, I founded Sown Ecological Solutions LLC. The years between were a life-changing journey that took me across the United States learning the ins and outs of restoration work. I found my biggest passion was nested in the Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem. As I worked with the prairie I discovered a gap between people wanting help and the accessibility of prairie restorationists able to help install and manage the prairie. I started Sown Ecological Solutions to help fill that gap and provide services to landowners across Iowa to support and grow this precious endangered ecosystem around our state. In addition to Tallgrass prairie, I also have special interests in entomology, soil microbiology, biological control, and beaver-assisted wetland restorations! I am always looking for fun ways for me to weave these into my restoration projects! https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/ecologicalservices daily 0.75 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652380325108-YRGUN1HUC56A918PDDNG/unsplash-image-v-Ow2PhAOhU.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652380385271-HHOX7YQC97JDT4NE6FEX/DSC_1306.JPG Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652381443079-SY80ELRMS7DKTGKXIILL/DSC_1302.JPG Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1644509441074-3PVLQSXEKRH88GIXPQYV/IMG_4645.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652382697570-FYTHNV0A8BYCCCTBKW0Z/18081470682_79af43c48b_c.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652382709528-PID9ES8R9OJZEH5F6OEX/14620215420_2206ba3927_c.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652382808640-PBSPD4KTOBMHNRYM05P6/15296181449_ce33173cfe_c.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652382838203-AJ2PAU3P2WL6HXT5FS81/unsplash-image-s7ZABNRG2bw.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652383225298-2QQ0ZL9LV6Y1M58HYRTQ/image_50457345.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652383282119-QTTY188X39IYWYRTFE2Y/DSC_1467.JPG Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/eaad7023-18c5-4cb6-9860-e67d419a95e1/IMG_3545.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/57175641-e329-41e6-8977-4d790712506a/IMG_4035.jpg Ecological Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/177b1cc0-af25-4f95-b085-08d11f36dde1/paige+rousseau+beaver Ecological Services - Beavers are incredible ecosystem engineers Partner with beaver to create and maintain wetlands through implementation of BDA’s https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/home daily 1.0 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/c73ea36e-ea1a-499d-8e52-3b30bfc3760b/Sown+Ecological+Solutions+Illustrations+RGB-19.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/958d46f1-d26f-4fc8-a8b7-0c8e8c0e3f4f/Sown+Ecological+Solutions+Illustrations+RGB-02.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/111f9667-8dc3-4ad3-8856-76f4f0607add/Sown+Ecological+Solutions+Illustrations+RGB-28.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/903f0fd3-27ca-4ef0-9fb1-a4f7b41e24b7/DSC_1229.JPG Home Utilizing a holistic approach towards restoration, we prioritize soil health by offering biological soil samples to better understand what is happening beneath the surface before we begin a project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/878d6c9d-42da-4111-bde2-170b9637ddae/DSC_1359.JPG Home “Today the Tallgrass Prairie is in less than 4% of its original area. This makes it one of the rarest and most endangered ecosystems in the world” -National Park Service https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/54884f6d-2b17-42a0-afc8-7669cf43d819/DSC_1455.JPG Home - Ecotype Seed Matching Correctly matched ecotype seeds can greatly boost successful germination for prairie installation projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/2786f5be-aa52-4c38-bc4f-cf1a97b29dde/coverage+-+sown.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/35fd069f-b7ca-4841-be2c-02a1067f76eb/Sown+Ecological+Solutions+Illustrations+RGB-01.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/84b2d2b0-3de1-4e46-8d8a-fbd7acd94c3a/DSC_1409.JPG Home - Teaming with beavers for wetland restoration Inquire about Beaver Consultations to help mitigate beaver issues on your property and promote coexistence with this crucial keystone species. https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/99aeb670-3831-4435-b50a-f52e8f78ae15/Sown+Ecological+Solutions+Logo+RGB-45.jpg Contact - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/landscaping daily 0.75 2026-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652990716018-K36UZI19341SFBQB0VG1/unsplash-image-6YGWhk7f6cA.jpg Native Plant Landscaping https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/3a66834f-b8dd-4648-b31c-b3c43ce41adf/DSC_2155.JPG Native Plant Landscaping https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1652383482374-NELYPCMXMN45UD9TU6MH/unsplash-image-o-ubWHV29Uk.jpg Native Plant Landscaping https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/06dbb8bf-0ce9-43e5-847a-f754e514f0e3/unnamed+%281%29.jpg 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/25d554e3-bd8f-49d8-95c8-453b62ae40af/IMG_9059.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/1967ff8e-d8c6-4207-8377-fbd09f5bcd40/DSC_2064.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/4e52450a-c6e7-4673-afee-e4d517750121/Sown+Ecological+Solutions+Logo+RGB-55.jpg https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/prairie-management-des-moines-iowa daily 0.75 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/2a02b75a-261e-45ec-b828-337d60036b8c/IMG_2964.jpg Prairie Management in Des Moines, Iowa Close-up of pink flowers atop green foliage in a grassy field with trees and cloudy sky in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/d8083298-16b2-4f6f-a7b4-54eace943960/IMG_3237.jpg Prairie Management in Des Moines, Iowa A field with tall grass and yellow flowers under a cloudy sky. 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https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/prairie-pockets-iowa daily 0.75 2026-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/7439d9ed-943d-4373-9373-4a5f7937ba7b/DSC_1386.JPG https://www.sownecologicalsolutions.com/prairie-management-in-ames daily 0.75 2026-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/f5be000f-883d-4b52-8322-13ce5108db47/imgg-demo-nLRbokBp.jpg Prairie Installation in Ames, Iowa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/2a02b75a-261e-45ec-b828-337d60036b8c/IMG_2964.jpg Prairie Installation in Ames, Iowa Pink clusters of flowers on a green plant in a field with trees in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620164b251c55613a582e069/d8083298-16b2-4f6f-a7b4-54eace943960/IMG_3237.jpg Prairie Installation in Ames, Iowa A field of tall grass and yellow flowers under a cloudy sky. 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