DES MOINES — Gardening fever has broken out across the state with homeowners digging, planting, weeding and mulching to avoid missing out on spring rains. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is encouraging homeowners to include pollinator-friendly native plants as part of the landscape.

Native Iowa plants are the most beneficial for pollinators and can be designed to look nice, said Stephanie Shepherd, wildlife biologist with the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Diversity Program.