 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
River Birch Rain Garden
View of River Birch Rain GardenHere is a simple rain garden that is different than our other four rain gardens, in that it is sited in a low area in the middle of turf grass, not connected directly to parking lot runoff. The garden captures rain water runoff that doesn’t soak through the surrounding turf grass, cleans it, and allows it to percolate into the soil and be taken up by the native plants. This type of rain garden is easily adaptable to a suburban yard.
This rain garden showcases one of the most popular medium-sized (50’-75') native trees for wet and moist areas: the river birch Betula nigra. River birches are great trees that provide beauty as well as environmental benefits. Trees are especially good at taking up contaminants from both water and air, and they will grow into a lovely grove in this garden. Known for their attractive peeling bark, river birches have high wildlife value. They produce seeds that are popular with wildlife such as turkeys, grouse, and small birds.
Come visit the cardinal flowers, which bloom a gorgeous red in this garden in late summer. They are an excellent rain garden plant which re-seeds itself, blooms biennially, and attracts butterflies and other small wildlife. The garden also includes several native grasses, herbaceous perennials, and shrubs, combined in a semi-formal, semi-moist meadow (non-formal) arrangement.
Zora Lathan designed the garden. The site was first prepared by removing the turf grass and leveling the area. In the spring of 2005, the rain garden was installed by Anne Arundel Green Party members, youth and leaders from the Juvenile Drug Court program, Adams Academy students, and Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners.
Pictures:
Click on the thumbnail image below for a larger picture and description
Size: 814 square feet
Plant List:
- River Birch (Betula nigra)
- Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)
- Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
- Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
- Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
- Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
- Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus)
- Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
- Narrowleaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
