By Susan Beecher
As a long-time gardener, it isn’t surprising that I have many gardens. But seven rain gardens? How did I go down the road so far?
And am I glad I did? Yes – my property has more beauty, more butterflies, and more life.
A rain garden is a garden planted with perennial native plants. In rural areas, it slows down water run-off to prevent erosion, like it did in my yard. It is a bowl-shaped or saucer-shaped garden, designed to absorb storm water run-off from surfaces such as roofs, driveways and parking lots.
Rain gardens can be small home-owner style gardens, large complex gardens, or anywhere in between. Rain gardens capture stormwater runoff before it pollutes our local rivers – while providing beautiful gardens throughout the growing season.
On my rural Sylvan Township property, I have created seven rain gardens. Due to the hilly
nature of my property and the surroundings, snow melt and heavy rains had caused some serious erosion. At times, a river of water would flow from the higher areas toward the pond. I worried about this flow of water – and the erosion it was causing. What effect was it having on the beautiful rural pond? What could I do about it?
Starting with a consultation from Susan Bryan, the rain garden coordinator for Washtenaw County’s Water Resources Department, my husband and I embarked on creating our first three rain gardens in 2015. He excavated with the tractor and I planned and planted. In 2016, I took the Master Rain Garden class offered by the Water Resources office.
We have added 4 more gardens since then.
If you live in town, a rain garden is a way to add beauty to your yard and by using plants native to where you live, can bring pollinators, butterflies and birds to your yard, while keeping run-off out of the storm drains.
The on-line Master Rain Garden class will be offered starting Feb. 23. The in-person class will be offered starting April 19. Here is information about the classes, which I highly recommend: https://www.washtenaw.org/675/Master-Rain-Gardener-Class
Here is more information about rain gardens from the Water Resources Commissioner’s website: https://www.washtenaw.org/647/Rain-Gardens
Here is the link with all of the info on how to get personalized advice on a rain garden anywhere in Washtenaw County: https://www.washtenaw.org/3031/Getting-Help
