RainScaping Newsletter

Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you. 
-Wendell Berry 

What difference does it make how I landscape?
The cumulative impacts of each rain event on each parcel of developed property are dramatic. Before extensive development, the landscape absorbs much of the rainfall. This natural process filters out pollutants, recharges groundwater, and reduces the likelihood of erosion and flooding. In urban and suburban settings, rainfall washes over impervious surfaces, like rooftops and pavement, creating runoff. Downspouts, hard surfaces, and storm drains are used to divert and channel stormwater runoff, ultimately, directly into local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Rainfall that washes over impervious surfaces picks up a wide range of pollutants including fertilizers, pesticides, oils, metals, litter, pet waste, and sediment, which flow—unfiltered—to our waterways. This polluted runoff contributes greatly to the resulting dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay, which now includes more than a third of the bay each summer.

Only YOU can prevent polluted runoff!
The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries won’t be restored to health until private property owners, who own 64 percent of the land in Anne Arundel County, begin implementing rainscaping practices to reduce the effects of polluted runoff. We can restore our waterways by practicing preventative measures such as properly disposing of litter, pet waste, and motor oil; and by reducing or eliminating the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Even more dramatic improvements are achieved if we also redirect downspouts to planting beds, install rain gardens and rain barrels, plant native trees and shrubs, and replace hard surfaces with permeable surfaces. ­By infiltrating and filtering stormwater runoff, the cumulative impacts of rainscaping will help restore our waterways, restore habitat, and add beauty to the landscape. Additional significant benefits are increased property values and a reduction in a community's carbon footprint. It’s a win-win for you and the environment! 

Rain Gardens Across Maryland

Introduction
If you enjoyed reading Rain Gardens in Maryland’s Coastal Plain [and even if you haven’t read it], you will enjoy reading Rain Gardens Across Maryland. This new and improved “how-to” manual discusses the benefits of incorporating multiple small-scale practices into a rain garden design. You will also learn how to:

  • Reduce impervious surfaces
  • Size your rain garden to capture the maximum rainfall amount
  • Select rain garden plants native to Maryland
  • Install rain barrels
  • Measure your rain garden’s performance

Download here (scroll to bottom of page)


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Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming RainScaping Events!

You are invited to the following free events at locations throughout Anne Arundel County:

▪ Saturday, April 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., RainScaping Exhibit, City of Annapolis "Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Truckload Sale," Truxton Park Pool, Annapolis, MD 21401.

▪ Sunday, April 18, 11 a.m.-Noon, RainScaping Presentation, St. Anne's Environmental Ministry, 199 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401.

▪ Thursday, April 22, 4-8 p.m., RainScaping Exhibit, St. Philip's Episcopal Church Interfaith Earth Day Celebration, 730 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

▪ Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., RainScaping Exhibit, Earth Day Celebration, Quiet Waters Park,600 Quiet Waters Park Road, Annapolis, MD 21403.

▪ Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., RainScaping Exhibit, Greater Severna Park Earth Day Exposition,St. Martin's-In-The-Field Church and Day School, 375 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD 21146.

▪ Saturday & Sunday, May 15 & 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., RainScaping Exhibit and Presentation, Chesapeake Green Living Festival, Anne Arundel Community College – Arnold Campus – David S. Jenkins Gymnasium, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012. Note: There is an admission fee for this event. For more information, visit http://chesapeakegreenlivingfestival.com/.

▪ Sunday, June 13, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Shady Side Museum Grand Opening of Rain Gardens with Benches and Rain Barrels, ribbon cutting at 2 p.m., 1418 East West Shady Side Road, Shady Side, MD 20764. For more information, visit shadysidemuseum.org, or call 301-855-2929.

RainScaping Tours, Mini-Workshops, and Volunteer Saturdays with assistance from Master Gardeners, Anne Arundel Community College Students, and anyone that would like to join us at the Chesapeake Ecology Center, 245 Clay Street, Annapolis, MD 21401:

▪ Saturday, April 3, 9 a.m.-noon; 9-10:30 a.m. - Volunteer Orientation and Tour of all 30 Gardens and Sites; 10:30 a.m-noon - Garden Care.

▪ Saturday, April 10, 9 a.m.-noon; Rain Garden Design Overview and Installation; expand a rain garden swale to connect runoff from the parking lot (near main kiosk) to the Bertina Nick Rain Garden.

▪ Saturday, April 17, 9 a.m.-noon; 9-10 a.m. - Red Buds in Bloom—A Walk Along the Woodland Garden; 10 a.m.-noon - Garden Care.

▪ Saturday, Thursday, April 22, 1 p.m.-3p.m.; Earth Day Tour of all 30 Gardens and Sites for Home and Garden Information Center staff; alternate Volunteer Orientation Day.

▪ Saturday, May 15, 9 a.m.-noon; 9-10 a.m. - Rain Barrels 101 and Unpaving Paradise with Permeable Pavers; 10 a.m.-noon - Seedling Potting and Garden Care; transplant plugs into larger pots to grow out for Sept. 18 Garden Open House.

▪ Saturday, June 19, 9 a.m.-noon; 9-10 a.m. - Perennials in Bloom Garden Tour; 10 a.m.-noon - Garden Care.

▪ Saturday, July 17, 9 a.m.-noon; 9-10 a.m. - Woodies in the Landscape Garden Tour; focus on the tremendous value of shrubs and trees to soak up and filter runoff; 10 a.m.-noon - Garden Care.

▪ Saturday, September 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; CEC Garden Open House and Native Plant Sale; three to four Garden Tours will be led by Master Gardeners (rain date - Sunday, September 19).


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RainScaping at the Chesapeake Ecology Center

Last spring, Maryland Public Television produced a segment entitled RainScaping at the Chesapeake Ecology Center, which was part of MPT's Chesapeake Bay Week Volunteer-A-Thon.  The five minute video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bE8KcVRL-0 (If the link does not work, cut and paste it into your browser.)  The video will also give you a preview of upcoming volunteer activities at the CEC.


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Did you know about Maryland's $25 Tree Credit?

Obtain a coupon at--www.trees.maryland.gov/index.asp--worth $25 off the purchase of one tree with a retail value of $50 or more at all participating retail nurseries and garden centers. The discount is taken at the register at the time of the sale. This is not a mail-in reimbursement. One coupon must be filled in for each tree purchased. Coupons must be filled in completely and signed by the customer to be valid. Coupon reimbursement is for retail sales only. Wholesale tree sales do not qualify. The coupon is valid for trees listed on the Marylanders Plant Trees Recommended Tree List, online at: www.trees.maryland.gov/pickatree.asp.


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The RainScaping Campaign—an Environmental Partnership for Stormwater Runoff Solutions—currently has 38 non-profit and government partners, all with a common purpose of improving the health of our tributaries and the Chesapeake Bay by motivating a critical mass of residents to make RainScaping the norm in Anne Arundel County.

Visit RainScaping.org often. We are continually updating and adding new content. Helpful information includes: Upcoming Events calendar; information on rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable pavers; an extensive, sortable native plant list; and calculators to help you determine the size of your rain garden, number of plants needed, and amount of mulch needed. There are also numerous resources listed on the Resources/Media Kit page.