Learn With Us, Week of July 22

Rain Gardens 
Sunday, July 22, 3:00 – 4:00pm
Durham County Library – North Regional Library
221 Milton Rd, Durham, NC 27712
Description:A rain garden allows water to percolate down into the ground slowly, recharging your ground water and minimizing the amount of soil and fertilizer that would otherwise be lost through runoff. Explore the beauty and functionality of rain gardens with Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Georganne Sebastian and Darcey Martin. They will discuss the where, why, and wow of water conservation through residential rain gardens.

North Regional Library, 221 Milton Road, Durham, NC 27712 3:00-4:00pm
Classes are free. Registration is required.

Register with Pana Jones, EMGV Coordinator via email at prjones2@ncsu.edu or call her at 919 560-0521.

Durham Garden Forum Gardener’s Fair
Tuesday, July 24, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708
Description:2018 Gardener’s Fair, Durham Garden Forum
Featuring area  Experts and garden suppliers

Exhibits Include:
Products and Plants
Amendments and composting
Maintenance strategies and products
And more
Breakout Demonstrations:
Pruning
Propagation
Decorating with succulents

This is a free event.
No pre-registration necessary. Free parking after 5:00 pm
When: July 24, 2018 (Tuesday)
Where: Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 420 Anderson Street, Durham, NC, Doris Duke Center
Contact: durhamgardenforum@gmail.com

Perennials and Pollinators 
Thursday, July 26, 2:00 – 3:00pm
Durham County Library – North Regional Library
221 Milton Rd, Durham, NC 27712
Description:Perennials, Pollinators and Color
Chris Apple, Durham County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer will discuss with you how perennials can attract pollinators to our gardens and investigate how we can use those perennials to interject color or interest into our gardens throughout the year.

North Regional Library, 221 Milton Road, Durham, NC 27712 2:00-3:00pm
Classes are free. Registration is required.

Register with Pana Jones, EMGV Coordinator via email at prjones2@ncsu.edu or call her at 919 560-0521.

Rain is Rushing Down My Street

It’s raining – again! Do you wish you could save some of that rainwater for later? Maybe you are tired of seeing your soil and mulch wash down the street during heavy downpours. There are some things you can do.

Stormwater Management in the Garden

by Michelle Wallace, Consumer Horticulture Agent, Durham County

There are butterfly gardens, children’s gardens, and vegetable gardens – all of which are designed and developed around a central theme. So, what kind of garden is built around the theme of rain? Rain gardens are gardens created to help with stormwater management.

In the past, the goal has always been to manage stormwater by getting rid of the surface water as fast as possible. The water from roads is drained into the city sewer system, where it disappears. With more flooding of streams, creeks, and rivers, everyone is becoming aware of how important it is to manage storm water. In addition, the old methods of managing stormwater did nothing to reduce pollutants from entering our watershed.

It has taken some time, but the old method of managing storm water is changing. Instead of trying to get rid of the stormwater as fast as possible, stormwater is retained and allowed to slowly percolate into the soil. Wetlands and bog plants are used to help filter out the pollutants in the water.

More subdivisions are required to manage their own stormwater. Bio-retention ponds made beautiful with plantings of attractive water loving species become desirable focal points and also increase the bio-diversity of insects and wildlife. Some subdivisions are even doing away with tradition curb and gutters along the streetscape and utilizing drainage ditches, more common in rural areas.

What can you do? To start, consider utilizing the water that falls on your property. If you have gutters, connect the downspouts to a rain barrel or cistern. Cisterns will also solve your water problems during the long dry spells in the summer. They can be attached to an irrigation hose. Another solution is creating a slight depression in your landscape where water can collect and drain. Amend the soil in the depression to avoid standing water for extended periods. Utilize water loving plants that can sustain themselves while submerged in water over a short period of time. Many of these plants are also well adapted to dry periods. There are several plants that will flourish in wet soils including: Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp hibiscus), Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag iris), Baptisia species (false indigo), Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower), and Itea virginica (Virginia sweet spire). For more information on Rain Gardens visit http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/raingarden/index.htm.

[From Ann Barnes, blog administrator]: One of my fellow Master Gardener Volunteers shared this photo of a rain garden on her property. Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s also good for water quality and the environment. If you have a suitable area in your yard, please consider installing a rain garden. You can contact the Master Gardener office for more information.