Cyclists in West Des Moines can now enjoy a colorful tribute to Iowa’s native wildflowers thanks to a new mural created by a University of Northern Iowa art professor and her student. Samantha Gross, assistant professor of art, was one of only six artists selected by the city to create murals with a nature theme on three trail underpass entrance and exit walls this year. The beautification project is just the latest public art creation from UNI’s art department focused on community engagement and hands-on experience for its students. The mural itself was created with spray paint, a nod to one of Gross’ long-time art inspirations, and features vibrant, stylized renderings of aromatic aster, butterfly milkweed, sweet coneflower, little bluestem, and Joe Pye weed - plants all found on Iowa’s native prairies and cornerstones of its ecosystems.