Prepare to be dazzled by this week’s Crown of Flowers!
My garden is bursting with a stunning array of blooms that create an ever-changing display of colour and fragrance. Currently, the showstoppers include vibrant pink daylilies, elegant Annabelle hydrangeas, sunny Gold Plate yarrow, cheerful zinnias, classic Shasta daisies, charming nasturtiums, vivid hot pink phlox, and the striking crocosmia.
These blooms are not only a feast for the eyes but also drought-tolerant perennials, except for the annuals (nasturtiums and zinnias). Their captivating colours and enticing fragrances are irresistible to pollinators, making my garden a buzzing hub of activity.
Harnessing the Power of Water in Your Eco-Friendly Garden:
Imagine a storm so intense it’s only supposed to happen once in a century. Now, picture that storm happening far more often, turning what was rare into a regular challenge. These "100-year storm" events, driven by a warming climate, mean when it rains, it truly pours. To combat this and ease the strain on overburdened stormwater systems, many cities have turned to rain gardens. These gardens not only manage stormwater effectively but also enhance urban greening and curb appeal. Homeowners can join this green revolution by adding rain gardens to their landscapes.
Soak It All In:
Have you ever thought about where all the rain and melted snow from your garden end up? It’s a journey from your yard to local bodies of freshwater—lakes, rivers, and streams. Every drop that doesn’t get absorbed into your garden travels across pavements, gutters, and drains, picking up pollutants along the way. By reducing runoff from your yard, you significantly improve the health of our waterways.
How Can We Help? Install a Rain Garden!
Enter the rain garden! These eco-friendly wonders work like nature’s sponges, soaking up stormwater and filtering out pollutants. Rain gardens are designed to capture and infiltrate rainwater runoff from impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, and lawns. Planted with deep-rooted native species that tolerate both wet and drought conditions, these gardens provide multiple ecological benefits.
Photo:Ian Adams (Better Homes and Gardens)
When planning a rain garden, consider plant diversity as you would in a pollinator garden, with plants blooming from early spring to late summer and including butterfly host plants where possible. Additionally, account for varying soil moisture levels: a damp area in the lowest part, a medium area, and a drier edge.
For a successful rain garden, integrate native clump-forming grasses and sedges, which are essential for soil stabilization and erosion prevention. These plants should be included throughout the garden. Additionally, small trees and shrubs can enhance larger rain gardens. Wet-tolerant options like pussy willow, buttonbush, red twig dogwood and river birch add seasonal interest and thrive in wet conditions.
What Rain Gardens Are Not:
Rain gardens are not ponds, nor are they mosquito breeding grounds. Properly designed rain gardens hold water briefly after a storm, quickly infiltrating it back into the ground. They are generally not deeper than a foot and do not require liners. The size and depth of your rain garden should be based on the amount of rainfall you need to manage from impervious surfaces.
Rain Garden Design Tips
When designing a rain garden, think of it as an integral part of your landscape rather than a stand-alone feature. Consider its shape and how it fits with the overall composition, screening, and circulation of your yard. Integrate the rain garden with other plantings, such as a depression within a perennial bed or shrub border. Enhance the aesthetics and functionality of your rain garden with decorative stones, seating areas, pathways, or other hardscape elements to make it more visually appealing and user-friendly.
Photo: Capital Region Water District.
My Rain Garden Adventure
This year, I embarked on an exciting project: creating my own rain garden and food forest. Faced with the challenge of runoff from a nearby pond threatening to wash away my long, sloped driveway, I knew I needed a solution that would both manage the stormwater and enhance my landscape.
The result has been transformative. My rain garden now captures and filters excess rainwater, directing it through a dry river bed made of river rock on top of a perforated drainage pipe. This setup allows the water to be slowly released into the landscape, reducing erosion and preventing waterlogging.
With plantings that can handle periodic flooding, the garden is buzzing with life, supporting a diverse array of wildlife and adding new beauty to my yard. It feels like my garden has been given a new lease on life. Plus, I've already harvested a variety of squash, and I'm eagerly waiting for my peppers and tomatoes to ripen!
Monika Rekola photo
If you can't plant a rain garden, you can still conserve water with downspout gardens or rain barrels. What’s more beautiful than conserving and repurposing natural resources like water?
PHOTO: ILLUSTRATION BY MAVIS AUGUSTINE TORKE
Plants for Creating the Downspout Garden Plan
The mix of plant sizes and the soft pinks and blues of the flowers of the following perennials work together to create a dynamic design with just a few plants. All of these plants appreciate plenty of moisture, and can tolerate occasionally soggy soil. They are Joe-Pye weed, pink turtlehead, dwarf sweet flag and great blue lobelia.
Conserve Water, Build a Rain Barrel!
A rain barrel is a great way to go green, using captured rainwater to water the garden, lawn or even houseplants. This project used a recycled barrel with a stylish cover of simple fence pickets and rope.
Photo: Mick Telkamp
Rain Chains: Add some charm with decorative rain chains. These beauties not only manage water flow but also make your garden sparkle with a touch of artistry to any space.
So, why not take the plunge and transform your garden into an eco-friendly oasis? With rain gardens, rain barrels, and smart water conservation techniques, you can create a sustainable sanctuary that benefits both you and the environment. Let’s make every drop count!
Monika Rekola is a certified landscape designer and horticulturist, passionate about gardening and sustainable living. As a budding homesteader and garden writer, she shares her love for recycling, repurposing and birdwatching. Monika is dedicated to ecological gardening, aiming to balance our delicate ecosystem. Contact her at [email protected].
