The rain gardens still look a little sparse, but that’s all part of the process. Even though the plants are small now, they’re working hard underground, growing deep roots to make sure they flourish in the long run. The exciting part? The Washington Conservation District has our back! They’ve been stepping in with just what we need to keep improving these gardens, taking it one step at a time.
Cameron Blake from the Washington Conservation District has been a fantastic partner, rounding up extra plants to meet the needs of specific gardens. Some rain gardens needed more coverage, so we’ve added new plants to fill them in. Others had plants that just weren’t in the right place—like the garden where Joe Pye weed and sedum were struggling in the shade. They’ve been replaced with shade-friendly plants like wild geraniums, blue flag, and palm sedge to give that space the right vibe.
Safety’s been a focus too. Some gardens at intersections were filled with tall plants, making it tricky to see around corners. To solve that, we swapped in shorter varieties—prairie dropseed, purple coneflower, brown-eyed Susan, and short yellow daylily—keeping things beautiful without blocking anyone’s view.
One of our new volunteers stepped up to advocate for the garden she’s been caring for. She put in a request for some fresh plants, and thanks to Cameron, she received a lovely mix of upland asters, purple coneflowers, prairie blazing stars, blue flag, and palm sedge. It’s always inspiring to see volunteers take the initiative to make sure these gardens thrive!
Another garden had been disturbed recently and needed a little extra love, so we brought in New England Asters to replace the plants that didn’t make it. They’ll bring fresh color and life to the area, helping it bounce back stronger than before.
We’re so grateful to the Washington Conservation District and, of course, our incredible volunteers for all the time and care they put into these gardens. Rain gardens are a long-term investment, and as the plants grow, so will their impact on water management, pollinator support, and the beauty of our community.
Big things are happening below the surface, and it won’t be long before the results are blooming aboveground too. Stay tuned!
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