Demonstration Rain Garden at 510 Owens Street South

At Sustainable Stillwater MN (SSMN), we celebrate the transformation of spaces that reflect our commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being. The garden at 510 Owens Street S., once fondly nicknamed by Ruth as “The Clay Oven,” is one such space, where challenges have turned into opportunities for growth and education.

The garden originally faced tough conditions—its soil was native clay, hard and inhospitable. Volunteer trees had taken root, reed canary grass spread across the area, and Siberian iris dominated the landscape, leaving little room for a diverse plant community. But with collaboration and determination, this space has been revived.

During an event to plant native forbs and grasses in a field atop a large catchment basin, which was designed to capture runoff from the north-facing slopes of Lily Lake Park, members of the Washington County Conservation Department (WCD) visited Stillwater. The head of the WCD, along with the Senior Landscape Restoration Technician and the leader of the county-wide work crew, came to help with the project aimed at diverting runoff away from Lily Lake.

While they were in the area, Ruth Alliband, a passionate volunteer with Sustainable Stillwater MN and leader of our Rain Garden Workgroup, invited the WCD team to visit “The Clay Oven.” Ruth shared concerns about the garden’s poor soil quality and asked for the WCD team's insights on what might have gone wrong. Matt Downing of WCD quickly identified the issue: loose clay from a construction project up the street had likely been washed into the garden by runoff. This realization connected with homeowner Patty Elovich, who recalled a city sewer reconstruction project that left the street filled with loose clay a few years ago, leading to significant soil runoff into the garden during heavy rains.

Thanks to the generosity of WCD, the clay soil was removed and replaced with a more suitable mixture of sand and silt. This new soil, added to a depth of 8-10 inches, is designed to absorb runoff effectively, revitalizing the rain garden’s purpose. Bark mulch was also added to protect the newly installed plants from weed seed infiltration and reduce surface evaporation during dry periods.

Ruth’s words to Patty, “This is our revenge,” captured the shared relief and satisfaction of finally overcoming the garden’s long-standing challenges. What was once a nonfunctional space is now a source of pride for SSMN and the community.

Today, the SSMN Rain Garden Workgroup features new, thoughtfully designed signs that identify the plants growing in the garden and the adult and larval insects, birds, and pollinators they support. These signs emphasize the critical role native plants play in sustaining our local food web. For example, the well-known relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed plants is highlighted by the three species of milkweed planted in this garden. Without these native host plants, the insects that rely on them would struggle to survive in our suburban environment.

But it’s not just monarchs that benefit—many other insects, like the rusty patch bumblebee and the five-lined sphinx moth, also depend on specific host plants. This garden serves as a living classroom, teaching us about the complex web of life that surrounds us. The signs even feature photos of these creatures, reminding us of the vital connection between plants and wildlife.

Sustainable Stillwater MN is proud of the transformation at 510 Owens Street South. This garden is more than just a space—it’s a testament to our ongoing efforts to create a healthier, more resilient community for all.