Boston Flora

Tag: Rain Gardens

  • New Environmental Protection Agency National Stormwater Calculator Available for Download

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently updated its national stormwater calculator, which estimates the amount of rainwater and runoff from any site in the U.S., to reflect best estimates on future climate change. The EPA writes: “the calculator now includes changes in seasonal precipitation levels, the effects of more frequent high-intensity storms, and changes in evaporation rates based on validated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate change scenarios.” The first iteration of the calculator just covered soils conditions, slope, land cover, and historical rainfall records.

    The goal is help developers, planners, and landscape architects understand how to best adapt our water management systems for a changing future. The new EPA administrator, Gina McCarthy, said: “climate change threatens our health, our economy, and our environment. As part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, this tool will help us better prepare for climate impacts by helping build safer, sustainable, and more resilient water infrastructure.”

    The calculator software, which can be downloaded free, enables users to discover how green infrastructure can reduce stormwater runoff. According to the EPA, the calculator first accesses several databases that offer soil, topography, rainfall, and evaporation information for any given site. Users then plug in information about a site’s land cover and finally determine which types of green infrastructure they would like to use. Options include rain harvesting, rain gardens, green roofs, street planters, infiltration basins, or porous pavement.

    The EPA says it’s best to develop a range of results using different assumptions about “percent of impervious surface, soil type, sizing of green infrastructure, as well as historical weather and future climate change scenarios” in order to comprehensive.

    Download the new calculator from the following web page, which includes instructions for downloading: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/wq/models/swc/.

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  • Tuesday, January 14, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Rain Gardens to the Rescue

    The North Andover Garden Club will meet Tuesday, January 14, from 7 – 9 at St. Michael’s Parish Hall, Main Street, North Andover, and the featured speaker will be Donna Williams. Donna is a Board Member of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. This is an informational meeting about the MA Rain Garden Campaign to help reduce polluted runoff flowing into our water resources. Gardeners,homeowners, and business owners are invited to learn what they can do on their own property to reduce the stormwater impact to Massachusetts waterways, and how to enhance rainfall, reduce runoff, and save money on your water and sewer bills.  The meeting is open to the public.  For more information visit www.northandovergardenclub.com.

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  • Friday, August 9, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Rain Gardens and More

    Rain gardens take advantage of the natural abundance of rainfall, rather than wasting it as runoff, using water flowing from roofs, driveways, or lawns to create beautiful gardens.  Learn about additional rainwater retention strategies such as bog gardens, roof gardens, swales, and terraces, tailored for particular situations or to solve problems such as erosion, icy walkways, or wet basements.  With an inspirational slide program, past Garden Club of the Back Bay speaker Dori Smith will review design options, construction details, and case studies.  Feel free to bring photos of a site issue to discuss.  The August 9 program will take place at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, and the fee is $26 for NEWFS members, $32 for nonmembers.  Cosponsored by the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and Massachusetts Audubon Drumlin Farm.  Visit www.newfs.org to sign up.

    http://carnivorousplants.homestead.com/files/Bog2005/Bog_Garden_May_2005_100_1829_1024X767.jpg

  • Wednesday, June 8, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Designing Ornamental Gardens for Effective Storm Water Infiltration

    Kevin Beuttell, MLA, LEED AP, has eleven years of experience in developing sustainable design solutions for a variety of public and private project throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern United States.  On Wednesday, June 8, from 1:30 – 4, he will speak on Designing Ornamental Gardens for Effective Storm Water Infiltration. Despite the proven environmental benefits of storm water gardens, many people are reluctant to use them because they rarely result in attractive, long lasting landscapes that are easy to maintain.  A close examination of the materials and processes of storm water gardens, however, suggests a solution for creating a significantly stronger and more resilient system of relationships between vegetation, soil, and environmental performance.  This shift in the design approach creates opportunities to design beautiful ornamental gardens that function as highly effective storm water management systems in a wide variety of site locations and regional climates.  You will tour a variety of rain gardens in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and learn practical tips on creating effective rain gardens that can also stand on their own ornamental merits.  $20 ELA members, $25 non-members.  Register by calling 617-436-5838, or email ela.info@comcast.net.

  • Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 pm – Pollution Solution: Safeguarding Our Waterways

    A program to be held at the Vineyard Haven Library on Wednesday, May 4, beginning at 7 pm, is a presentation of Tisbury Waterways, Inc.  The illustrated lecture will detail the installation of its bio-swale at the base of Owen Little Way in Vineyard Haven.  Bio-swales, or vegetative buffers, are a natural landscaping way to filter stormwater run-off to prevent pollution of marine environments.  Learn why bio-swales are key pollution fighters in commercial settings or in your own backyard, and how you can “grow” your own rain garden.  If you recently heard Dori Smith speak to the Garden Club of the Back Bay on the subject of rain gardens, this program will interest you.

  • Tuesday, April 5, 10:00 am – Rain Gardens: Beautiful Water-Saving, Wildlife-Friendly Gardens

    The April meeting of The Garden Club of the Back Bay will be held Tuesday, April 5, beginning at 10 am at The College Club, 44 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, and will feature Dori Smith of Gardens for Life speaking on Water Gardens: Beautiful Water-Saving, Wildlife-Friendly Gardens. Would you like to help protect our precious water resources, while at the same time creating lush, beautiful gardens that attract birds and butterflies?  Rain gardens take advantage of our natural abundance of rainfall rather than wasting it as runoff – using water flowing from your roof, driveway, or lawn.  These gardens are easy care, and can often solve problems such as erosion, icy walkways, or wet basements.  Using inspirational PowerPoint slides, we will review design options, construction details, and appropriate native plants.  Attendees are welcome to bring photos or descriptions of their own landscapes to use as case studies.

    Trained in design and horticulture, with a certificate from Tower Hill Botanic Garden “New England School of Gardening” and an advanced certificate in native plants from New England Wildflower Society, Dori is a member of the NEWFS Educational Committee, and is accredited as an Organic Land Care Professional by Northeast Organic Farming Association.  She has installed over 15 rain gardens in Boston’s western suburbs, and has published in the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Sanctuary Magazine.

    An optional lunch will follow the presentation.  The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are essential.  Lunch will cost an additional $20 for Garden Club  members, $25 for guests, and reservations may be made by emailing info@bostonflora.com before Tuesday, March 29.  Garden Club members will receive written notice of this meeting.

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  • Wednesday, December 2, 4:00 – 6:00 pm – Designing an Ecological Home and Landscape

    Join Marie Stella and Aran Byrnes to explore the process of creating an ecological and sustainable home and landscape that features environmental awareness, reduced energy consumption, sustainability, and innovative uses of plant material.
    Marie and Aran will introduce us to Beaver Lodge, Marie’s LEED platinum certified home and teaching facility, and invite us to explore the process of building an energy efficient, sustainable home and integrating it with a responsibly managed landscape.
    They will highlight the ecological elements of Beaver Lodge such as rain gardens, buffer zones, a vegetated roof, and green architecture. This presentation will motivate and encourage us to blend landscape, art, and technology for a more sustainable future.  Sponsored by the Ecological Landscaping Association, www.ecolandscaping.org, the program will take place in Nordic Hall (below) at the Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham Street, West Newton, Massachusetts.  Cost is $20 for ELA Members, $25 for non-members.

    Use This Link to Register Online Now

    Walk-ins Also Welcome!

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  • Saturday, September 26, 10 am – 2 pm – Sustainable Gardens at the Perkins School

    On Saturday, September 26, from 10 – 2, join Sonia Baerhuk, lead grounds-person, for a tour of the extensive campus at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, the country’s first school for the visually impaired, founded in 1832. The school’s sustainable garden highlights range from the leaf and fallen tree composting systems to a tropical “Cathedral” greenhouse that operates without the use of chemicals. See the two recently installed rain gardens funded by a grant from the Watertown Community Foundation, as well as orchards that grow with biological controls and visit several native plant gardens.  The smells, textures and sounds in the various gardens enrich the lives of students, staff and visitors. Bring a bag lunch. Sponsored by the New England Wild Flower Society, $35 for NEWFS members, $42 for nonmembers, limited to 20 participants.  For more information, directions, and to register, log on to www.newfs.org, or call 508-877-7630.

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