Native Prairie Planting
When the first settlers arrived in Iowa, nearly 30 of this state's 35 million acres were blanketed with tallgrass prairie. In less than 150 years, 99.9% of this vast, lush grassland disappeared under the plow. The prairie before you contains some of the more than 300 native grass and wildflower species that once stretched for endless miles across Iowa's landscape.
——————
"When Henry Wallace (Uncle Henry) began buying land there (in Iowa), much of Adair was still 'raw prairie'. Bluestem grass standing eight feet tall covered much of its twenty-four square miles."
"American Dreamer: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace"
By John C. Culver and John Hyde, W.W. Norton & Company, 2000
——————
Iowa's centuries old prairie resulted in rich, fertile topsoil. Agriculture cultivation and wind and water erosion have seriously depleted the topsoil in a mere 150 years.
1850 - 14" • 1950 - 8.5"
1875 - 13" • 1975 - 7"
1900 - 11.5" • 2000 - 5.5"
1925 - 10" • 2025 - ?
"Hybrids and Ploughshares"
by Lisa Schlesinger
——————
Prairie reconstruction on this 9 acres started in 1997. Seed from the Wearin Prairie in Mills County, one of Iowa's few remaining native prairies was drilled in the spring.
——————
Kyle Swanson, Vice President of the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center, 1994-1999, assisted with the planning of this prairie.
Kyle is known throughout Iowa for his prairie research and restoration projects.
He died on March 13, 2000 and is remembered here for his prairie dedication and volunteer work.
Erected by Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1892.
Location. 41° 13.815′ N, 94° 21.861′ W. Marker is near Orient, Iowa, in Adair County. Markers are along the tallgrass prairie trail at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2773 290th Street, Orient IA 50858, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Jasper James And His Family (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Henry A. Wallace Birthplace (about 400 feet away); Grasses / Voices (about 400 feet away); The Mormon Trail (approx. 3.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Carnegie Library (approx. 7.1
Also see . . .
1. Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. Center website homepage (Submitted on August 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Tallgrass Prairie Center, Cedar Falls, Iowa. University of Northern Iowa website entry (Submitted on August 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on August 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 331 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on August 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.