A prairie planted on a former cornfield in Illinois has shown how a carefully planned restoration can develop over time. At Nachusa Grasslands, a 6.25-acre field was converted into reconstructed prairie as restoration began in 2008, using seed collected from 176 species suited to dry-mesic, mesic, and wet-mesic habitats. Additional seed was added by hand in 2009 and 2010, bringing the total to 192 species. As per the Grassland Restoration Network, the revisit found 134 of the 192 planted species, or 70%, growing there. The survey also recorded 30 native species that were not part of the original planting, while seven non-native species were found in scattered populations.
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