Gnome sighting in Miller Ave rain gardens!

The rain gardens along Miller Ave are not even complete yet, and already a gnome has been seen.  Since gnomes are pretty picky about where they reside, this rain garden must be a pretty special place.

Hope to see lots of neighbors and friends of rain gardens at our Walk and Talk Saturday, October 26, 2013, 3:30.  Meet at Calvary Methodist Church at 1415 Miller and we'll walk westward.

Sidewalk runoff goes to Easement Garden

I have been trying to get the rain water from our sidewalk to go into the planting bed between the sidewalk and the street - the boulevard.  It is an erstwhile rain garden, but captures a *lot* of water when it rains.

The water flows down the sidewalk, and between my son and the driveway apron, into the bed.  In this pic, it is POURING.  But you can't necessarily tell.

It took a while to get the water to flow into the planting bed.  I finally had to dig a trench to get it to flow there.  There is a bit of grass there now, but the trench is a good 3" below sidewalk level.

Southfield City Hall Parking Lot Rainwater Garden

Even Southfield has a rainwater garden at their City Hall.  Note the inlet, and the stones that slow down the velocity of the water before it gets to the interior.    (pic taken July 2009)

Malletts Creek Library

Malletts Creek Library is designed with rain gardens - note how the water flows from the parking lot through a concrete opening into the garden.  

Malletts Creek parking lot and landscape design is by InSite Design.

Also, they have installed labels.  On Miller Ave we could have labels inset in the concrete that said "Rain Water Garden".

Easy Street

Easy Street improvements included rain water gardens.  These are placed similar to how the Miller Avenue rain water gardens will be placed - between the sidewalk and the street.

The design of the Easy Street improvement was by Pollack Design Associates, Conservation Design Forum, JFNew, and Stantec.

1795 Miller Ave

Here is a rainwater garden that already exists on our corridor - at 1795 Miller Avenue.  This garden was installed by the resident, Jeremy Sobczak, with design help from Washtenaw County rainwater garden program.  (design consultant:  InSite Design)
Washtenaw County Rain Gardens

Washtenaw County has some straightforward construction tips, if you are looking to build your own.
Construction tips - Washtenaw County