ReGENerating Rain Gardens

This week we're going to take a close look at the proposed plantings, donated by Dragonfly Gardens, for the back yard and rain garden. Next week we'll get to the front and side yards. Here's a schematic of the back yard. Samuel Geer of reGEN Land Design, our Education Partner for the rain garden, and a member of the Emerging Professionals of the Minnesota Chapter of the USGBC, provided the design and list of materials.

Although we're not going for LEED for Homes certification with this project, it's worth noting that one of the Sustainable Sites prerequisites is "no invasive plants." Minnesota Green Communities has a similar requirement. We did some quick checking and were pleased to find [as expected] that the backyard species are predominantly native Minnesotan and none could be found on invasive species lists. (We were unable to find a single, free, definitive list of Minnesota invasive species on-line.) Below is a listing of Common Names, Latin Names and number of plants for the back yard. The Common Names have links to additional information. [Depending on availability at planting time, there may be some species substitutions, but all plantings will be native.] Please plan on joining us October 26 to learn more about using these beautiful native plants in your own landscaping plan and to see the hands-on installation of a rain garden and French drain.

Topics to be Covered include:
• Low maintenance landscape design
• Design with native species and horticultural varieties.
• Invasive species control
• On-going maintenance

Proposed Plantings 

Number	Latin	Common
1	Aronia melanocarpa	Iriquois Beauty Chokeberry
36	Carex Pennsylvanica	Pennsylvania Sedge
3	Eupatorium dubium	"Little Joe" Joe Pye Weed
13	Iris versicolor	Blue Flag Iris
12	Panicum virgatum	Shenandoah Switchgrass
13	Rudbeckia fulgida	'Goldsturm' Black Eyed Susan
3	Perovskia atriplicifolia	Russian Sage
1	Amelanchier x grandifolia	Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
6	Diervilla lonicera	Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
9	Calamagrostis-acutiflora-karl-foerster	Feather grass
1	Hydrangea paniculata	Hydrangea

Here's a map link to 929 Edmund, in case you need it.