A Rain Garden for All Seasons

Last Summer, we had our road repaved - Yeah for improvements! And as part of that project, the city asked if any houses in the neighborhood would be willing to install a rain garden. I was interested and called to find out more... which turned into us signing up to do one (unbeknownst to us)... which turned into a year long process - so it goes when working with the city. Sure we could have said no (since you might remember we were in the midst of a large kitchen remodel!), but it seemed to be a less expensive way to install a good looking garden in our front yard, since the city was providing the curb-cut, excavating, pavers, wood-chips, planting arrangements, and the means to helping us get reimbursed for up to half of our plants and work. Sounded pretty good... all we needed to add was patience!

Not knowing we would be selling our home in a year, we went ahead with our little project and had a big hole in the ground all winter. Finally this past June we connected with someone from the city to work up a plan of what to plant. We then bought the plants and finally were able to finish our garden.

~My fantastic helpers~

We've had compliments from the city and from many of our neighbors, who I'm sure were wondering what the hole was going to turn into. In fact many of the conversations started by them asking when the city was going to come back out and fill in this big hole they had dug! They were concerned with the eyesore, but not anymore!

It was a long, drawn-out... but fun process! It was interesting learning more about rain gardens and the plants that thrive in them. Plus, it fancied up the front lawn in a space we barely used anyway!