Robert's Creek: "A Linked Land"

Pollinator plots are intended to not only beautify a small area of land, but also to attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, and moths. Plants seeded in the Robert's Creek pollinator plot include various types of penstomens, milkweeds, Hoary Vervain, clovers and legumes, wild bergamot, goldenrods, and numerous varieties in the aster family.

Iowa native species within the plot (some pictured below):

• Penstomens- Foxglove penstomen
• Milkweeds- Butterfly milkweed, Common milkweed, Purple milkweed, Swamp milkweed, and Whorled milkweed
• Hoary Vervain
• Clovers and Legumes- Round Headed Bush Clover, Purple and White Prairie Clover, Partridge Pea, Showy Tick Trefoil, Rattlebox
• Wild Bergamot
• Goldenrods- Field Goldenrod and Stiff Goldenrod
• Asters- Sky Blue Aster, White Heath Aster, Smooth Blue Aster, New England Aster, Stiff Aster, Groovestem Indian Plantain, Pale Purple Coneflower, Tall Thoroughwort (Tall Boneset), Sneezeweed, Ox-eye Daisy, False Boneset, Prairie Blazing Star, Gray-headed Coneflower, Prairie Coreopsis, Black-eyed Susan, Fragrant Coneflower, Compass Plant, Brown-eyed Susan, and Ironweed

Bloom times vary depending on location and the type of soil in which the plant is grown. For a pollinator plot, it is recommended to seed native Iowa plants for the greatest success because native plants are best suited for Iowa's climate and soil types. The pollinator plot at Robert's Creek named "A Linked Land," is 1.8 acres of mixed vegetation of which also includes these types of grasses and sedges: Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, Side Oats Grama, Little Bluestem, Canada Wildrye, Virginia Wildrye, Rough Dropseed, Prairie Dropseed, Purple Tridens, and Fox Sedge. The seed mix that gave this variety is called the "Leopold Mix" and was purchased from Pheasants Forever.

Common pollinators that may be seen within or near the pollinator plot include bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, and moths!