Vanderburgh Co. SWCD Partners With Master Gardeners
The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association (SWIMGA) and the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District are joining forces to create a rain garden at the new Master Gardener Display Gardens.
Rain gardens are not
a new concept, but are new to the southwestern Indiana area. A rain garden
serves several purposes: it removes standing water by letting the water seep
naturally into the ground, conserves water, and recharges the ground water. A
properly constructed rain garden will filter pollutants, capture unwanted
sediment, and reduce polluted runoff. And to top it off, they make an
attractive addition to any landscape while providing a wildlife habitat! Rain
gardens can be used not only in one’s yard to catch runoff from a roof, but also
in a commercial setting to catch runoff from parking areas.
This rain garden will join several other display gardens that are scheduled for
the new Display Gardens. A highlight of the Gardens is a circa 1850 log cabin
that was recently moved from rural Vanderburgh County to the garden area. The
area around the cabin will feature a kitchen garden, herbs, and a fruit and
berry patch. An Alpine garden, bog garden, and a sensory garden, in addition to
the rain garden, are just a few of the display areas scheduled to make an
appearance in the Spring of 2007.
The Master Gardeners hope to offer creative, practical and time efficient ways to better enjoy one’s yard and garden. From grasses to vegetables, the many individual garden areas will be designed to provide some practical ideas and solutions to the home gardener.
The main pathways of the Gardens are constructed of pervious concrete through the generosity of the Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the Ohio Valley Cement Promotions Committee. This product allows water to percolate back through the concrete and into the ground, rather than running off. It also helps to filter the water and remove pollutants.
The Gardens are located just off the east-bound Lloyd Expressway between the Boy Scout Eykamp Center and the American Red Cross. The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association (SWIMGA) is an all-volunteer organization that manages, and provides educational programming for, many display areas in the Evansville-Newburgh area. Training is provided by Purdue University through the County Extension Educator. For more information on SWIMGA or the display Gardens, contact the Vanderburgh County Extension office at 812-435-5287 or visit http://www.ces.purdue.edu/vanderburgh/