Restoring Endangered Ecosystems
THE PHOENIX CONSERVANCY
Micro-Prairies
• Palouse Prairie •
The Phoenix Conservancy is thrilled to offer a new way to bring endangered Palouse Prairie into your yard. Sometimes, restoring a large chunk of property isn't feasible. If you're looking for a low-cost way to restore a small patch of Palouse Prairie, our Micro-Prairie program is for you!
A Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) with a resting Golden Northern Bumble Bee (Bombus fervidus), the genus of which (Bombus) is the namesake for our largest Micro-Prairie package option.
Summary
Even small-scale restoration can make a big impact. Planting native in our yards improves habitat connectivity and provides important resources for native animals to travel across the landscape (e.g., through cities or agricultural areas). Small native plant gardens can even serve as permanent homes for animals with very small ranges, such as tiny bees.
The Phoenix Conservancy has been restoring endangered Palouse Prairie habitat for years with our successful Pocket Prairie program, but we realize that not everyone can afford larger restoration projects or has a yard to restore. Our Micro-Prairies make restoration more accessible by offering small, pre-set prairie packages that are easy and affordable to purchase.
Benefits
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These plant mixes showcase beautiful blooms throughout the growing season, bringing a little extra sunshine to your home or business.
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Native prairie plants are low-maintenance, requiring little to no water after establishment.
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Micro-Prairies provide food and shelter for native pollinators, birds, and other small creatures.
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Native plants offer improved protection against soil erosion, improve soil aeration and fertility, and attract beneficial birds and insects that pollinate crops and help control garden pests.
Micro-Prairie Package Options
Our standard options include 3’ diameter (“Perdita”), 5’ diameter (“Andrena”), and 7’ diameter (“Bombus”) micro-prairie installations, each named in honor of a different native bee genus of a corresponding size. We also plan to offer a 1-2’ diameter potted prairie installation for renters. Each package includes a mix of native prairie wildflowers and bunchgrasses (plus a shrub in Bombus), a seed mix to enhance diversity over time, and installation costs. For each package, we use a standard set of plant species, a few rotating species to choose from, and an evolving seed blend, meaning that every Micro-Prairie is unique.
An illustration of a Perdita Micro-Prairie (left). A Perdita bee pollinating a flower (right, photo by Lisa Hill).
Perdita
3-ft Diameter, 9 Seedlings + Seed Mix
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2 Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis)
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2 Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Psuedoroegneria spicata)
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1 Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii)
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1 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
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1 Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)
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1 Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
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1 Rotating Species
An Andrena bee pollinating a flower (left). An illustration of an Andrena Micro-Prairie (right).
Andrena
5-ft Diameter, 15 Seedlings + Seed Mix
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3 Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis)
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3 Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Psuedoroegneria spicata)
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2 Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii)
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2 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
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2 Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)
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1 Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
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2 Rotating Species
An illustration of a Bombus Micro-Prairie (left). A Bombus bee rests on a flower (right).
Bombus
7-ft Diameter, 23 Seedlings + Seed Mix
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3 Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis)
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3 Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Psuedoroegneria spicata)
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2 Sandberg Bluegrass (Poa secunda)
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2 Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii)
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2 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
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2 Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)
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2 Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
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2 Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
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1 Native Shrub (Customer's Choice)
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4 Rotating Species
Want your own Micro-Prairie?
Click the "Book Now" button under the package you would like to schedule your Micro-Prairie's installation.
*This program is only active in the Palouse region of southeastern Washington and northern Idaho*
Palouse Micro-Prairie Packages
Frequently Asked Questions
"How do I sign up?"
Please fill out the booking form above for your preferred package to secure a spot in our schedule. You can also visit the "Services" page on our website to find the same forms. You'll need to provide a deposit, the address where the Micro-Prairie will be installed, and a few details about where on your property you would like the Micro-Prairie. We look forward to working with you!
"How much does a Micro-Prairie cost?"
The cost of a Micro-Prairie depends on the package you select and if you’d like any add-ons such as landscaping rocks or biochar. The base price is $140 for the Perdita package (3-ft diameter), $260 for the Andrena package (5-ft diameter), and $490 for the Bombus package (7-ft diameter). The deposit to secure your spot in our schedule is the selected package's base price. The remaining amount for any add-ons is paid on the day of installation.
"Is this a landscaping business? Isn't The Phoenix Conservancy a non-profit?"
Sort of and yes! The Phoenix Conservancy is a 503(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our Micro-Prairie program is a social enterprise that both furthers our mission to restore endangered ecosystems and helps fund our larger restoration projects. Net revenue goes toward restoring places like Conservation Park, Missouri Flat Creek, and other public lands in the Palouse.
"Will The Phoenix Conservancy take care of my Micro-Prairie after it is planted?"
In general, no. It is the owner's responsibility to care for their Micro-Prairie once it is installed. However, we are happy to answer questions about care. We will also provide a free round of weeding during the summer (July-September) for Micro-Prairies installed in the spring and during the following spring (April-June) for Micro-Prairies installed in the fall. Additional weeding will be available for a fee.
"How do I care for my Micro-Prairie?"
Micro-Prairies are designed to require relatively little active care, especially after they become established. We recommend watering your Micro-Prairie regularly during its first spring and into July, at which point some species start going dormant naturally. However, the more you water, the longer many species may bloom. Palouse Prairie plants are quite hardy and can tolerate the region's regular summer droughts, so watering is usually not necessary after the first year. Invasive plants can also pose a challenge to restoration, so weeding may be necessary, especially at the early stages of development before the native plants become large enough to shade out their non-native competition.
"How long does it take for a Micro-Prairie to become established?"
In general, our Micro-Prairies take about two to four years to become well-established, but you’ll likely get blooms the first year. This timeline varies based on multiple factors, including the amount of sunlight your Micro-Prairie receives, soil conditions, how frequently you choose to water, and yearly variation in weather patterns.
"My yard has a lot of shade. Is it still possible to have a Pocket Prairie?"
The Phoenix Conservancy specializes in restoring open prairie and prairie-forest edges, meaning that we have species that thrive in full sun and others that thrive in partial shade. As long as the area in question isn’t under dense tree cover and has some open canopy, the species we have selected for the Micro-Prairies will do well.
"When can I have my Micro-Prairie installed?"
Our Micro-Prairie crews will be available Mondays and Tuesdays between 8am and 5pm PST between April 15 and June 11th (spring) and September 16th and October 29th (fall) for 2024.
"Will my Micro-Prairie be installed on the date and time I select no matter what?"
Not necessarily. If conditions are likely to prevent successful planting (e.g., heavy rain, extreme heat, the ground freezes), we will get in touch within 48 hours of your chosen installation date to reschedule. That said, we've chosen our spring and fall planting periods to minimize risk of unfavorable weather.
"Will I need to be present for my Micro-Prairie installation?"
No, but we'd prefer you be there to tell us exactly where you'd like your Micro-Prairie installed. If you can't be present, please clearly mark the location by flagging the center of where the Micro-Prairie should be installed.
"Can I customize the shape of my Micro-Prairie?"
Somewhat. If you would prefer a rectangle with the same square footage as one of the standard circular packages, we can modify the shape.
"Can I request species other than the ones listed for each Package?"
Purchasers of the Bombus Package can choose their shrub from a list we will provide after purchase. However, you may not choose which wildflower species are planted in your Micro-Prairie. If you would like to increase customization, please see our Pocket Prairie page.
"I'd like to do the landscaping myself. Can I buy native plants from The Phoenix Conservancy?"
At the moment, no. We grow all of our plants in our greenhouse with supplemental purchases from Rose Creek Nursery and Plants of the Wild. In the near future, we hope to start selling local ecotypes of species you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Be sure to stay connected through our newsletter or social media to find out when this program launches!
"I don't live in the Palouse. Can I still get a Micro-Prairie?"
For now, no. This program is currently only available to homeowners and businesses in the Palouse Prairie region of southeastern Washington and northern Idaho. We primarily work in the Pullman-Moscow area, but we will accept contracts anywhere within the dotted white line on the map below.
A map depicting the boundary and towns of the Palouse Prairie.
"I live in the Palouse but am pretty far away from your headquarters in Pullman. Can I still get a Micro-Prairie?"
Yes! We will accept contracts anywhere within the dotted white line on the map above, and we provide services at no additional cost to anyone living within 15 miles of our headquarters in Pullman. If you live farther than 15 miles away, we will apply a $1.75 per-additional-mile surcharge to and from your Micro-Prairie's location. For example, if you live 25 miles away, we would apply a $35 surcharge (10 extra miles one-way * 2 * $1.75 = $35).
Francis & Heidi B.
“We are loving our new pocket prairie. There is always something blooming and the flower colors change with the seasons."
Mike & Lisa H.
"We are very pleased with the work of the Phoenix Conservancy program! Our front yard, in particular, is fast becoming a showcase for Palouse Prairie after just a few short months. Looking forward to watching our beautiful yard continue to develop!"
RECENT NEWS
Feature in KHQ
"Phoenix Conservancy fights to save the Palouse Prairie"