Plan
- What supplies will you need for your rain garden?
- How will you build your rain garden?
- What plants will go in your rain garden?
- Where will your rain garden be installed, and what permissions do you need?
Do
- Rain gardens are generally planted in shallow depressions at the bottom of natural slopes.
- These gardens, full of local shrubs and flowers, use rain runoff as their water source.
- Not only do they add a hint of beauty to a neighbourhood, they also help to collect rainwater runoff, which can sometimes contain things that may be harmful to your waterways.
- Find out how to build your own rain garden and plant it in your neighbourhood!
Review
- What was the most challenging part of building your rain garden?
- What was your favourite part of this project?
- How will your rain garden help the environment?
Keep it Simple
- What is the water cycle? From the ocean, lakes and ponds, to rain falling from the sky, to the water we flush down the drain—where does it all travel, and how? What happens to dirty water, and how come we can’t drink the rain from puddles? With your Lodge, Lair or Patrol, do some investigating on the movement of water. Consider ways to reduce water use in your community and at home.
Take it Further
- Which plants and trees normally grow the best near water? How can they help with protecting shorelines, oxygenating of water and preventing flooding? Read up on drought-tolerant trees (sedges vs. grasses), and plant appropriate trees to help regulate water as part of your next Scoutrees planting event.
