Places to Visit

There are many places around Bellevue and around Nebraska to visit to learn more about native plants or native prairie and deciduous forest landscapes. We are able to use these areas for future visits and tours and you are welcome to explore them on your own!

If you have gardens, parks, or wild spaces to add to this list, email us at bellevuenativeplants@gmail.com.

Nature Associations

  • Lauritzen Gardens (Parking lot plantings, Song of the Lark Meadow, Conservation Garden, and Woodland Trail, and Woodland Waterfall areas specifically)
Song of the Lark Meadow Photos and Moth Display at Front Entrance (Photos Courtesy of Stephanie Barelman)

Prairies and Parks

Green Burial Site Within Bellevue Cemetery (Photos Courtesy of Nathan Duffy)
  • Griffith Prairie near Aurora, NE
  • Bauermeister Prairie in West Omaha
Bauermeister Prairie near Zorinsky Lake in Omaha(Photo Courtesy of Sue Dawson)
  • Ninemile Prairie near Lincoln
  • Heron Haven in Omaha, NE
Bird Sanctuary at Heron Haven (Image Courtesy of Heron Haven)
  • Haworth Park trail in Bellevue, NE
  • Everett Park (newly planted native bed located southwest of the bridge and cottonwood trees on the far south end near the tennis courts)
  • Prairie Plains Institute sites
    • Gjerloff Prairie
    • Sherman Ranch
    • Lincoln Creek
    • Olson Nature Reserve
    • Ratzlaff Prairie
    • Guadalcanal
    • Pokorny Prairie

Gjerloff Prairie in Early Summer (Photos Courtesy of Stephanie Barelman)

  • The Butterfly Bistro Garden located inside Cryer Park in Omaha, NE near 114th and Center Streets: 3 large gardens comprised of about 2000 plants, 95% regional native, designed by the Arboretum in partnership with the Skylark Cryer Neighborhood association.

The Butterfly Bistro Garden (Photos Courtesy of Jane English)

  • The Omaha Bee Club Apiary inside of the Bohemian Cemetary: Two large teaching gardens with very visible plant labels. Up to about 65-70 regional native species on display, about 90% sourced from Midwest Natives, with plans for more. Supported by the Douglas/Sarpy Master Gardeners.

Bee Garden at the Bohemian Cemetary in Omaha (Photos Courtesy of Jane English)

  • UNL Pollinator Garden in Lincoln near 48th and Holdrege Streets
  • The Backyard Farmer Garden on East campus at UNL. 3850 Center Street, Lincoln, NE 68603
Photos of the Backyard Farmer Garden in late Summer (Photos Courtesy of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum)
  • Wildflower Viewing Roadways (as recommended by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum) Click here for Nebraska Department of Roads website
    • Highway 2 from Grand Island to Alliance
    • Highway 20 from Valentine to Chadron
    • Highway 83 from North Platte to McCook
    • Highway 83 from North Platte to Valentine
    • Highway 6 from Imperial to McCook
    • Highway 8 from Falls City to Fairbury
    • Highway 11 from Scotia through Burwell to Butte in Boyd County
    • Highway 61 from Ogallala to Merriman
    • Highway 71 from Gering to Crawford
    • Highway 12 from Ponca to Valentine
    • Highway 87 from Alliance to Hay Springs
    • Highway 29 from Mitchell to Harrison
    • Highway 92 from Oshkosh to Gering
    • Highway 34 from Benkelman to McCook
    • Highway 275 from Clearwater to O’Neill