Secrets of the Rain Garden
- 00:02:03
- YouTube
Secrets of the Rain Garden
A few highlights from the wildflower / rain garden at Plymouth Congregational in Minneapolis. The garden was planted by volunteers. This is a sampling of what it looks like after a little more than one year. It is coming along nicely! Note the flowers, grasses, bees, bird having lunch, and more. A longer clip, featuring additional plants has been uploaded as well. Filmed with a pocket size "YouTube" Everio camcorder. Uploaded at 720x480, 30fps, 2mbs, to enable the option of high quality playback after compression. Although much of it was planted from seed just last year, it is coming along nicely! For the best experience, watch in HIGH QUALITY mode. Music: Kevin MacLeod. GARDEN DESIGN AND PURPOSE The rain garden area was designed with a depression to absorb rainwater that runs off of parking lot, walkways and roof. Because the water flows into the ground and is filtered, rather than running directly into Minneapolis storm drains and eventually the Mississippi, the rain garden provides the following benefits: ·Replenishes the ground water ·Reduces erosion ·Reduces water pollution ·Reduces flooding GARDEN PLANTINGS Wildflower gardens such as Plymouths are typically planted with species native to the region. The root systems create small passages in the soil, helping the drainage of water. The depressed area where the water flows is planted with a variety of wetland flowering plants, such as Tall Blazing Star, Lobelia, Black Eyed Susans; and grasses, rushes and sedges. The remainder of the garden is planted with native prairie plants. These include flowering plants, such as asters, goldenrod, and blazing star; a variety of prairie grasses; an area of no mow grass; and 24 shrubs, 7 vines and 5 trees. 284 perennials, representing 37 species, and 570 grass plugs, representing 11 species, were planted individually. Another 56 species were planted by seed. Benefits of using plants native to the region include: ·Creates habitats for birds, butterflies, pollinating bees, and other animals ·Requires no watering (once established), saving water and reducing maintenance costs ·Requires no fertilizing, reducing pollution and maintenance costs GARDEN FUTURE Over the years Plymouths rain garden will provide the corner of Nicollet and Franklin a wetland and prairie oasis. Some plants and a couple of trees did not survive the first, drought year and will need to be replaced. Recommendations for benches and improvements to the pathways will be considered. Vines are being planted that will help cover the rocks with greenery. Each year the plants will continue to grow and spread, attracting more birds, butterflies, bees and animals.
YouTube | October 17, 2008
