Sheeder Prairie State Preserve

Sheeder Prairie State Preserve is in the Southern Iowa Drift Plain and features a hilly tallgrass prairie. More than 200 species of plants are found here, including 30 grasses like big bluestem, porcupine grass and prairie dropseed. Springtime welcomes wildflowers such as bird's-foot violet and lousewort, followed by ground plum and indigo bush. Summer welcomes blooms like rough blazing star and wild bergamot and in the fall, flowers like Canada goldenrod and downy gentian appear. Ninety-six bird species live on the preserve, including many nesting and woodland species like gray catbird and eastern kingbird. Visitors are allowed to hunt on the preserve.