Native Plant Series- Planting More Than Flowers: The Value of Native Grasses

Event Summary

Learn from local experts through a new Native Plant Series. Johnson County Conservation will host four native plant sales and a speaker series in the spring and fall of 2026: May 3, June 14, and Sept. 13.  Each date will include a native plant sale. Troutleaf Native Plants, based out of Johnson County, will be our plant vendor in June. You do not need to register to attend the plant sale but registration is required for the native plant series. 

* Please note: You must register for each date of the Native Plant Series separately. 

Program Schedule: 

• 9:00-9:40 am- Native Plant Sale (Optional)
• 10:00 - 11:15 am - Planting More Than Flowers: The Value of Native Grasses 
• 11:15 am - 12:30 pm -  1/2 mile Guided Prairie Seed Harvest (Optional)

Session Descriptions: 

Planting More Than Flowers: The Value of Native Grasses with Prairie Plants w/Gina Bartleson

Gina will discuss why you should be adding native grasses to your native landscaping. This includes as larval host plants, wildlife cover and habitat, and increasing the ecological diversity of your native landscaping. After the presentation, join Gina in a guided native seed harvest around the Conservation Education Center prairie.

Guided Prairie Seed Harvest

Join our speaker for a guided seed harvest on the 1/2 mile Conservation Education Center loop. 

Speaker Bio: 

Gina Bartleson:

Gina Bartleson is a biologist with FDC Enterprises and former state coordinator with Pollinator Partnership. She is also a board member at large with Iowa Prairie Network and author of the Wild Ones Native Plant News Blog. 

Thanks to our partner organizations!

The plant sales and speaker series are being supported by the Johnson County Master Gardeners of Iowa and Troutleaf Native Plants.

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Programs