I’ve been planning for a couple of years now to do an ongoing series of posts featuring community gardens in the city of Calgary…my idea is that even if you don’t live in southern Alberta or grow your veggies and flowers in a community garden or allotment, there might be some ideas you can take away from seeing how the garden members have designed and utilized these spaces.

My first post is actually about a municipal initiative that promotes the construction of rain gardens throughout the city of Calgary.  This particular rain garden may be found adjacent to the Winston Heights/Mountview community garden (a fantastic garden I will write about later).  The garden members are responsible for the maintenance of the plants growing in the rain garden.

Photos taken September 2014

According to the City’s website, these rain gardens have been designed with purpose:  they help keep pollutants and sediments from stormwater drainage from entering the river (our drinking supply).  They also restrict localized flooding and help promote drainage. They’re planted with low maintenance, wildlife- and insect-friendly plants and are otherwise pretty much left to perform a necessary job.

Are there any rain gardens in your area, or have you implemented principles from rain garden design in your own garden?