Right to left: Katie Goodwin, Aza Kowalski, are joined by public workshop atendies Jackie, Terry, Connie adn Andrew near the rain garden. - FWS photo by Scott Stipetich

At the Coaster Classroom site on Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge, a rain garden was put in during the months of May and June.  This garden was designed and created to showcase what can be done with native plants and wastewater runoff from lawns, houses, garages, etc. in other locations.  The plants all came from a local native seed collector and greenhouse.  This garden was placed to utilize an artesian well as the water source instead of roof runoff to demonstrate the benefits of native landscaping and options that are available for providing native habitat at any site. 

Visitor Services Manager, Katie Goodwin and Intern Azsa Kowalski prepped the garden by removing existing vegetation, shaping and adding topsoil to the area.  Biologist, Mike Mlynarek, helped install a retrofitted hose for the artesian well at the site that is used as the main water source for the garden since there is minimal waste water for the garden to catch.  The planting of the garden was advertised as a workshop and four eager participants joined refuge staff to learn about native plants, site placement, rain garden design and helped finish the garden planting and mulching it in just two hours.  The garden has already shown excellent results.  The garden is in bloom and growing vigorously. 

Due to the lack of rain, the garden has benefited from the artesian well water and flourished because of it.  Overall refuge staff feel that the demonstration of using native plants and showing landowners that planting and care can fit into their lives very easily with a little twist and creativity.