Rain Garden Network Newsletter v4.7 –   Late Summer 2009

Where are the Rain Gardens?

We are putting on a push in Chicago and the local area to locate installed rain gardens. If you know about gardens in this area let us know.

Please send us what information you have about gardens you have installed, seen, designed, maintained, etc. We will be willing to share all information once we have organized it.

Please include as much information as possible. Name of garden, location (street address or 100 block), City, State, Install date, Installer, Sponsoring Org., whether it is a private or public garden (viewing a rain garden from the street without entering the property is important too) and any notes you might have. We will put all this information into a spreadsheet and database.

Three Seminars at Wilbur Wright Community College

Rain Garden Network will be giving 3 lectures about rain gardens, greener & more sustainable living and how to reduce stormwater runoff pollution.

The lectures are:

Greening Your Neighborhood – Oct. 7  6:00-8:00 pm

Gardens, Pavers, Barrels & Trees – Oct. 14  6:00-8:00 pm

Rain Gardens & Why They Are Important – Oct. 28  6:00-8:00 pm

          (We will also be giving this lecture at the Cultural Center Sept. 26  10:00-12:00 pm, see Chicago Center for Green Technology)

Visit www.LetsGoGreen.biz for 20% Discounts on Green Products but Don’t Forget to Use the Code RGN20

Rain Garden Network is supporting the efforts of Let’s Go Green and offering you a 20% discount on any online purchase of the green products the site offers. Just use the code RGN20 at checkout and receive a 20% discount.

Let’s Go Green sells recycled, energy and water saving sustainable products in the areas of Paper, Water, Lighting, Cleaning, Plastic, Plates/Cups/Utensils, BPA-free Bottles, Pet Products and Office Supplies. New products added all the time.

Everybody uses these products. They might as well be “GREEN” and save 20%!

Illinois recently passed the “Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act “ that clearly lays out the characteristics and benefits of green infrastructure and instructed the Illinois EPA to initiate a study to explore ways to incorporate green infrastructure principals and applications into state stormwater policy.

Check it out. Illinois thinks rain gardens and other natural forms of stormwater management are for real!   

Introduction to Educate and Infiltrate

MS4 Solutions - Beyond flyers

Rain Garden Network Capabilities

Funding

Case Studies

Plant Picking

Here are three plants that work well in and around a rain garden and require no municipal water to grow. Photos

Prairie Blazingstar – Liatris pycnostachya, stands 4’-5’ tall as an unbranched spike. The leaves near the base can be 5”-10” long and 1/2'” wide. The flowerhead is made up of many individual flowerheads that, together, can reach a length of 5” to 10” and have a soft or sometimes florescent purple/lavender color. Blazingstar enjoys full sun, wet to medium moisture and can live in soil from clay to loam.

Black-Eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta. Each flower presents a brown domed center surrounded by bright yellow petals. The rich green leaves are long, lance-shaped and rough to the touch. The plant is about 2’-3’ tall and thrives in full sun and well drained soil but will tolerate most types of soil.

Cup plant – Silphium perfoliatum, can grow 4’-10’ tall. The central stem is four-sided and can be quite thick. Broad, rough leaves give the cup plant its name as they are joined at their base creating a “cup” where rainwater is captured and held for birds and insects to drink from. The plant has a number of yellow petalled flowers with yellow centers. Cup plant enjoys full to partial sun, wet to moderate moisture and clay to loam soils.    

Response from Previous Newsletter

We received a response from our June newsletter regarding shade and the trimming of trees from Mike Mecke, a retire Extension Specialist in Texas. Mike suggests we might have added to the article:

"Trees are great, but they need to be cared for and that care should include PROPER trimming, shaping........... Check with your local landgrant university horticulture or forestry department for guidance on proper trimming techniques and timing. Always investigate and consider the mature size and shape of any shrub or tree prior to planting to save future problems and whether it is evergreen or deciduous."

We agree. Thanks Mike.

Visit CitizenSolution.info

“Building Sustainable Neighborhoods”

This is a place where all people, no matter your community, no matter your profession, can learn tips and techniques that will improve your household and your neighborhood.

Daily use of appliances and changing habits

Water as good nutrition

Walking you neighborhood

Plan your trips more efficiently

Questions or comments? Email us at info@citizensolution.info