I am as old as dirt but I just learned about a (new to me) thing called a 'rain garden'.

Vegetable gardens always have vegetables, rock gardens usually have rocks, trucks don't grow in truck gardens, kitchen gardens are outside and not in the kitchen, and rain gardens don't always have rain - sometimes they are dry. What a concept - dry rain.

Has anyone here on ATP written an article/idea about this yet? And if not, will some knowledgeable person please either write an article or start a thread to teach us all. Thanks.

Yeah! What IS a rain garden?

It's a shallow depression in the ground that has a water source, like a downspout from your house. The depression catches the rain water and in it can be planted natives and grasses -- a little sort of bog garden.

It's been so dry here such a thing wasn't possible until this spring. Now I'm considering it, either that or an Ark.

Rain gardens are meant to help catch the rain and retain it on one's land rather than letting it run down driveways and into street gutters and such. Basically, slowing down the flow of water enough so that it can percolate into the ground. So yes, they can be dry between rains, particularly in arid climates.

Also, truck DOES grow in truck gardens! "Truck" is an old noun basically meaning "garden produce (usually vegetables) grown for market."
.....and there's your nerdy fact for the day!

Rain gardens are quite popular here in the Pacific NW, where we have tons of rain. Much better way to route water in a pleasing way with less environmental damage. Another big thing is permeous* surfaces - instead of a slab of solid concrete, lay some concrete blocks on their side to provide both a hard surface and drainage. I love all the new innovations I'm seeing out there.

(*I guess I don't know how to spell this, I've tried several variations...sorry)

I'd love to see images of rain gardens by ATP members.

There is an area in my daughter's yard that may be a rain garden candidate. At the moment there is a ditch, only filled with water during rain events, through the back half of the property. Perhaps I could regrade to create a rain garden - would be much prettier than a ditch. (Okay, no cracks about "where would you plant the ditch lilies".)

You've got it greene! Your daughter in effect already has a rain garden. You just need to help her make it a garden. Sounds like it might be a great spot for some Cannas and gingers, too, if there's any sun available?

Deb, on the "permeous" spelling issue, I think it must be either porous or permeable. (but we knew what you meant) Whipped concrete (with bubbles and spaces) for walkways, ungrouted pavers and bricks, gravel and shell driveways etc. are very common down here - it's known as 'porous paving' and is strongly recommended for preventing storm water runoff, same as where you are. Except, when it rains, it rains harder here, trust me. None of that dribbling and dripping for days on end. More like standing under a fire hose blast. (I'm originally from Vancouver BC, btw)

Rain gardens, on the other hand, are not so common, although there are a lot of drainage ponds and water gardens that have water all the time. The land is very flat, and we are virtually a desert for nearly 8 months of the year. It only rains dependably from June through September. (although of course this year . . . we had a wet May and so far no rain in June to speak of).

Yep, there is plenty of sun most of the day and I can slope the area so one end retains moisture a bit longer leaving the other side more high and dry.

Needed to re-direct some of the rainfall away from the house via downspouts to possible some drainage boxes/catch basins then piped underground to...see, that's as far as I had thought it through, to where?

But now I know the answer...to the rain garden. Thanks. Now everyone please go out and take photos of rain gardens in the various seasons; I'll got get a shovel and start digging.

Hee hee. @Danita : I'll have no truck ("3. close association or connection, i.e. will have no truck with crooks") with your truck ( "5. vegetables grown for market") if they're not organically grown.

Definitions stolen from Webster online.
http://www.merriam-webster.com...

Thanks. I love this kind of stuff!

@woofie
If I load my truck (vehicle) with truck (veggies) and truck(transport) them to you then you better truck(barter) your truck(small wares) for my truck (veggies) or I shall have no truck (connection) with you!
...just joking of course!

Well done! I surrender!

Keep on truckin'

Woofie, no surrender desired, just fun! Thanks for the laughs!

I think greene got the best last word!

I've been trying to think of a joke where the Victory garden wins, but you guys are so much funnier than whatever is in my head right now.

I found a most excellent link to explain rain gardens. Written by Pastiche.

http://pastiche.squidoo.com/ra...

Well, my attempt at a rain garden seems to be working.

In this first photo was taken yesterday the water is only a few inches deep. This is where the water table is at the present time.


This photo was take just a few minutes ago after a brief shower. The water is about a foot deep.

Thanks,
I didn't see the PVC pipe in the first photo, but I can see it in the second. Very nice rain garden. It seems to be working just fine.

Very cool Jay! Most excellent.