GARRISON (AP) - Right now, it looks a lot like weeds.

But with some help from nature, a little luck and hard work on the part of Fort Stevenson State Park staff, a 10-acre native prairie restoration area will become a showcase of native grasses and plants.

Chad Trautman, assistant park manager, said patience is an important ingredient when working on a native prairie restoration project. He said it takes at least three to five years for the grasses and plants to take hold.

The site overlooks Lake Sakakawea on the parks far south end.

Trautman said work on the project began in 2000 with removal of old, decaying Chinese elm trees and ground preparation to destroy tame grass and bromegrass that permeated the site.

It was seeded in the fall of 2001 with native grasses such as little bluestem, blue grama, Indian grass and green needle grass.

The plant mix included stiff goldenrod, white prairie clover, early sunflower and silktop dahlia.