Biolog Rain Garden

Fall 2004, Biolog Garden

At the lowest point of the front parking lot, near the entrance to Adams Academy Middle School grounds, the Anne Arundel County School System cut a 100-foot long swale and lined the area with asphalt in the 1950’s. The asphalt swale sloped toward College Creek in order to shoot water from the parking lot as quickly as possible to the creek.

Today we recognize that the opposite process is preferable for protecting the Bay and its wildlife. Instead of an asphalt chute, we designed this rain garden to break the water flow, allow it to cool and soak into the ground to recharge groundwater, and allow the water to flow through native vegetation to remove pollutants. Like the Rock ‘N Rain Garden, the Biolog Rain Garden saves water, reduces pollution, and helps wildlife—all at the same time. The rain garden infiltrates stormwater runoff from the front, lower parking lot. Named for the devices used here to slow the flow of water, this garden uses biologs made from rolled, biodegradable, coconut fiber.

Rob Schnabel, restoration specialist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, designed the garden. The asphalt was removed with the help of a bobcat, the assistance of the Anne Arundel County Stewardship Workgroup, and many others. John Flood rototilled the garden; and Vince Leggett, Bill Sanders, and Zora Lathan planted the garden.

Pictures:

Click on the thumbnail image below for a larger picture and description

Size: 2,000 square feet

Plant List:

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
• Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)
• Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
• Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
• Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
• Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
• Black Chokeberry (Photinia melanocarpa ) Formerly (Aronia melanocarpa)
• Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
• New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
• Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)
• Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Cattail (Typha latifolia) (native, but very aggressive; most have been removed)