Rain Garden - Springfield Botanical Garden - Springfield, Illinois
Posted by: BruceS
N 39° 47.382 W 089° 41.084
16S E 270115 N 4407864
Demonstration rain garden at the Springfield Botanical Garden in Washington Park on the west side of Springfield, Illinois.
Waymark Code: WM8XFD
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 05/26/2010
Views: 8
From the plaque at the garden:
What is a Rain Garden?"
"Sometimes called a "living sponge," rain gardens consist of native plants in a shallow depression designed to absorb runoff. Extensive root systems result in a hearty garden that is easy to maintain and helps prevent problems caused by excessive runoff in urban areas, including flooding and carrying pollutants into streams and lakes.
The benefits of rain gardens include:
- Discouraging local flooding and contamination of waterways
- Recharging ground water
- Enhancing the beauty of your yard and neighborhood
- Reducing lawn area and mowing
While an individual rain garden may have only a small impact, collectively they provide substantial neighborhood and community benefits. This Demonstration Rain Garden is a working example of what a rain garden can look like and how it functions. By following a few basic principles, rain gardens can be adapted to fit many different settings. More information about constructing rain gardens and some details about this demonstration garden care available from the Botanical Garden Information Desk.
This garden was developed by the University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit Master Gardener program in cooperation with the Springfield Park District Botanical Garden and the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission.
Funding assistance for this project provided by the Central Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society and the Illinois Lieutenant Governor's Rain Garden Initiative.