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RAIN GARDEN LECTURE COMING UP SOON!
JUNE 10TH AT 7:00 PM, HERE AT BEHMERWALD NURSERY A rain garden is an environmentally-friendly type of
garden that conserves water runoff, naturally diverting it back into the
ground, where it can replenish our groundwater supply and aquifers.
When it rains, water that runs off from lawns, gutters, driveways, and
many other areas, eventually can find its way back into local streams
and rivers. Think about all the pollutants that can be in that
water! Not coming up with a big list in your head? Don't be
shocked if you can't think of more than a few. However, this type
of water pollution is called non point source pollution and its
unnoticeable harm can be devastating in the long run. Consider these
common sources of NPS pollution: From roadways, driveways, and
parking lots you can expect salts, automotive fluids, and the heavy
metals commonly found in those automotive fluids. From lawns
and gardens (both private AND commercial) you can find
pesticides/herbicides, any topically applied products (think
granular products applied directly onto the lawn/soil), and animal
waste. This is NOT stuff we want entering our waterways!
When we experience heavy rainfall is when many of these harmful
pollutants will find it easiest to stray from their designated
locations. In a natural setting, a forest tree canopy can
intercept 150 gallons of rain water, while the forest floor can soak up
up to 18 inches of water. A naturally forested area has .3% of
runoff. Compare that number to a developed area, which has 30%
runoff. .3% vs. 30%. Enough said, right?
This is where rain gardens step up and try to
"intercept" that runoff. By catching water and allowing it to
slowly soak into the ground, rain gardens help re-charge our local
aquifers - this should be important to those of you with wells!
Rain gardens do not just benefit the local water supply and add
aesthetic value to your property, they also help cut down on municipal
costs in your local township. Rain gardens help cut down on soil
erosion, which in turn, helps prevent flooding. Rain gardens also
contribute to reductions in storm water treatment. These are just
two of the grand-scale cost saving benefits rain gardens can have on our
local community. Rain gardens also help provide habitat
for beneficial insects and wildlife. Many rain gardens can easily
incorporate native plants into its design, and native plants are a great
all-around benefit to our local environment! CHECK BACK
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RAIN GARDENS!
 So far, the plants
we are planning to use in OUR rain garden are: SHRUBS:
Aronia 'Viking' (compact Chokeberry), Salix purpurea 'Nana' (Dwarf
Arctic Willow)
PERENNIALS: Boltonia nana (Star flower), Echinacea 'Kim's Knee High' (Dwarf
pink coneflower), Viola 'Purple Showers' (purple violet),
Heuchera americana 'Dale's Strain'
(native coral bells), Astilbe chinensis 'Pumila' (Dwarf Chinese
astilbe), Physostegia 'Miss Manners' (white obedient plant),
Chelone 'Alba' (white native turtleshead), Astilbe 'Sprite' (dwarf
astilbe)
Existing
plants include a buddleia (purple), 2 ornamental grasses, and a
barberry. They're on the outskirts of the garden and have already
been doing well!
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