PRAIRIE RECONSTRUCTION AS A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN THE UPPER MIDWEST

An increasing interest to restore and reconstruct the tallgrass prairie of North America is rapidly emerging in the Midwest region of the U.S., not only in an effort to conserve biodiversity in rural communities, but also as a form of sustainable landscape for the design of urban environments. This work presents the environ¬mental benefits of employing native prairie perennials in an effort to beautify the landscape, while restoring valuable ecological services that enhance the sustain¬ability of human dwellings. Selected arrangements of grass and forb species are presented to inspire horticulturists and landscape architects to enthusiastically support the feasibility of this type of design for landscapes in this unique bioregion of the USA.