Across the Prairie:

A friend recently introduced me to Across the Prairie, a native plant and gift store located at 1423 S. Harvard Ave. I’d never heard of it, so took advantage of a free Saturday afternoon to check it out! It’s a small but charming shop, with a good selection of both native plants (locally grown, pesticide-free) and unique, locally made gifts. Plus, there are educational materials available if you’re wanting to plant, say, a monarch waystation. And the plants are labeled clearly with when and where to plant them, the types of pollinators they attract, etc.

Across the Prairie also hosts periodic events — some for kids — like painting nights, artist meet and greets, and more. Because the storefront is small, ticketed events may sell out quickly, so follow @acrossprairie on Facebook or @acrosstheprairie on Instagram to stay in the know.

I talked to one of the owners a bit when we visited. If I recall correctly, she said the business was started by three women who were all doing something similar: Growing native plants in their backyards. They joined forces and opened the storefront last spring. Branching out into selling local art and other goods, plus hosting events, should help the shop thrive even in winter months.

Here is a look inside (as of Oct. 11, 2025):

I don’t remember the lizard’s name, but so cute!

Bathroom down the hall to the right, and additional shopping room to the left:

Informational materials:

As you can see, the gift items are nice and varied. There is jewelry, paintings, fiber art, soaps, pottery, stained glass, books, and so much more.

Hours:

As of this writing, Across the Prairie’s hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3:30-6 p.m. (There’s a break for lunch). And Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

We ended up missing the parking lot the first time and had to drive back around the block. However, there is indeed a small parking lot behind the store.