Rain Gardens: Beauty with Benefits!

On Wednesday, April 29 at 6 p.m., the Windham County Chapter of UVM Extension Master Gardeners will host the program “Rain Gardens: Beauty with Benefits” presented by Marie Caduto, the Agency of Natural Resources Watershed Coordinator for the watersheds in southeastern Vermont. Marie works with local communities to develop and implement water quality improvement plans for surface waters throughout the region. Marie holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. Ed. in Environmental Education and has worked in the environmental field for over 30 years.

Rain Gardens are a simple yet highly effective concept: a Rain Garden is a basin shaped garden designed to catch and retain rain water run-off from impervious areas such as roofs, roads, driveways, parking lots, even compacted lawns. Using a variety of wetland edge plantings such as wildflowers, ferns, rushes, shrubs, etc., these “holding areas” allow the water to be absorbed into the garden and then travel through the Earth's natural filtration system before re-entering streams and rivers.

This natural process provides moisture redistribution, returns water vapor to the atmosphere, and helps to prevent erosion, pollution and flooding. It is estimated that Rain Gardens can cut the amount of pollution reaching rivers and streams by up to 30%.

The presentation will be held in Room 2E of the Marlboro College Graduate Center, at 28 Vernon Street in Brattleboro, and is free and open to the public.

The UVM Extension Master Gardener program cultivates gardening communities through volunteer education and demonstration. Volunteers work throughout the state to promote successful, safe, and environmentally prudent home gardening practices.