Almost 80 students from Union High School joined forces with staff of the Tallgrass Prairie Center, AmeriCorps service members, and UNI students on May 25 to transplant more than 2,300 native plants at Irvine Prairie located in rural Dysart. Under the direction of TPC staff and Union science teacher Craig Hemsath, the students transported, dug holes, and watered in each plant to help establish 22 species, including wild strawberry, pussytoes and cream wild indigo. Nearly all of the plants were grown from seed sourced from Iowa, and two species were propagated from material collected within a quarter mile of Irvine Prairie – marsh hedgenettle and bunchflower. The plants will increase the diversity of native species at Irvine Prairie as work continues to restore almost 300 total acres to prairie. Hemsath estimates that 400 Union students have assisted in restoration efforts at the prairie since its dedication in 2018.