Native plants are the most common types of plants used in a Rain Garden. This is because the plants are already situated to the types of conditions that the rain garden is in. Using plants that are not from the area involves special care of the plant and placing the rain garden in a place that may not be of use to the environment because of the needs of the one plant.  Also, the one plant may out compete the other plants for resources, destroying the garden.  In choosing plants, it is necessary to know how big your plants will get, as well as how far apart they should be spaced. Having a plant too tall or too close can take away resources from other plants, and those plants end up dying. Also, it is important to know when they bloom and how many of those plants you want. Having too many of one plant may offset the balance of the rain garden, and knowing when they bloom allows for you to plan how you want your garden to look at all times during the year.

                In our rain garden we are using 14 native plants. These include, Inkberry Holly, Winterberry Holly, Northern Bayberry, Red Chokeberry, Sweet Pepper Bush, Royal Fern, Marsh Marigold, Common Meadow Violet, Turtlehead, Cardinal flower, Blue flag iris, Swamp Rose Mallow, New York aster, and Seaside goldenrod. Each plant blooms between spring and fall, except the inkberry holly, winterberry holly, and northern bayberry. This is because they are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Evergreen means that they are in bloom all year round, so they make great winter plants. The other plants are good from warmer weather to make the garden beautiful when most people are outside.  Our gardens’ flowers also have a variety of bright colors that make it appealing to look at.

                The garden will be approximately 21’ wide, and 95’ long. Through the middle of the garden will be a 4’ wide pathway that runs through the entire garden. This allows for people to walk right through the middle of the garden and fully enjoy the garden. We will also offer tours to the community in order to show them how to set up the garden and build one of their own.