Tri-Center Public Schools

This garden is at Tri-Center Public School (33980 310th St, Neola, Iowa) school grounds which are public property but please be respectful of safety concerns and visit after school hours. This .6-acre garden is visible from the road and is right across from the school’s entryway. This school garden is not only working to reduce erosion on this steep slope but has become an important part of their student’s education. This garden was planted, is being maintained, and is utilized for educational studies by students.

The garden is a testament to community support, as several organizations including Pottawattamie Conservation, PATH, Milkweed Matters, Pheasents Forever, and Home Depot worked together to make this garden a reality. The placement of this garden will have a beneficial effect on the school. As students arrive, they will see this garden every morning to delight their eyes with blooms of Golden Alexander’s (Zizia aurea), Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida), White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida), and the many shades of greens on show by native grasses and sedges. Exposure to nature, even for short amounts of time or through a window, has shown to have positive outcomes on students’ mental well-being, test scores, and ability to focus.