Rain gardens in New Zealand

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New Zealand is an island country with keen environmental awareness.  Perhaps that's because they experienced some environmental disasters after colonization by Europeans.

Sheep and deer overran and denuded the country.  Erosion followed.  Species disappeared at an alarming rate.

So it's not surprising that their capital city--Aukland--has some interesting rain gardens.  Recently, I found the following photos on the internet.

The photos are mostly rain gardens for streets and sidewalks. If we're going to improve the lakes, we have to start dealing with street runoff in a big way! (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Rain gardens bring countries together

Rain garden, corner of Struck St. and Watts Rd.



Recently, I passed one of my favorite rain gardens on the way to Woodman's.   It's a large garden draining a parking lot, at the corner of Struck St. and Watts Rd.  I saw a group of people working on the garden, and decided to stop and find out about the garden.

City requests proposals for planting in existing rain gardens

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On June 14, bids are due on a project to plant and maintain rain gardens in Madison.  Some of the gardens have already been constructed, while others are in the process of construction.  Glenn Clark is the project manager. Work will start about June 21 and end about Sept. 20. 

Existing gardens to be planted
Starkweather Creek rain garden
Marston Ave. rain gardens 1-5
Bernie's Beach bio-retention basin
Allied Drive bio-retention basin
Prairie planting at Beld St. and Wingra Dr.
Kipp rain garden
Westmorland Park rain garden
Vilas Park bike path
Vilas Beach

Newly constructed rain gardens to be planted
609 Gilmore St
2114 E. Mifflin St.
2106 E. Mifflin St.
Ivy Street rain gardens A and B
1000 Edgewood Ave.

The RFP calls for purchase of 4,896 plants, so you can see that "green infrastructure" is fast becoming part of our economy--a source of jobs.

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See the RFP here.  There is a map of the garden locations on p.55, and species lists on p. 45.

From snowbank to sea

Reprinted from my "Save Our Stream" blog.

One warm day in March, years ago, my son Chris and I were walking in Forest Hills cemetery.   Everywhere, snow banks were melting into rivulets, coursing down the asphalt.

Chris asked: "Daddy--Where does the water go?"

As I explained about the water running into the sewer, then into the lake, then into the Mississippi River, suddenly a thought struck: "Why not actually show him where it goes?  Why not?" 

How to build a large rain garden on your terrace

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Building this garden doesn't have to cost anything.  Once established, little maintenance is required.  The basic idea is to dig out the terrace, to below the sidewalk level.

How to build a small rain garden on your terrace

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How to create an easy rain garden on your terrace--one that drains puddles !

Terrace rain gardens catch sidewalk runoff

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On May 11, a hailstorm knocked maple flowers onto the pavement.  Rivulets traced patterns in the yellow flowers, showing where the runoff goes.  It's clear that most sidewalk runoff flows into the street, where it's flushed quickly by sewers to the lakes.