Interest in the restoration of landscapes native to the Intermountain West is growing as the value of these arid ecosystems is increasingly recognized. Many landscapes within the Intermountain region have been impacted by grazing, development, recreation, and other human-caused disturbances. The complex relationships within the native plant communities of these arid landscapes need to be well-understood biologically, while considering their aesthetic contribution, if restoration efforts are to succeed. Although the use of ecologically appropriate native species is increasing in popularity, there is discontinuity between aesthetics and meaningful ecological contributions. A series of studies was designed to aid in the restoration of a site located at the Utah Botanical Center in Kaysville, Utah. The restoration site is situated along the I- 15 corridor which interfaces urban development. The high visibility and educational purpose of the site requires that aesthetic as well as ecological concerns are addressed in the restoration of the native plant community. Specifically, the establishment of Intermountain grassland species was assessed using a variety of methods to test establishment rates as well as the potential value to the system of biologically fixed nitrogen provided by native legumes early within the establishment period.