Rain Garden

Citizen Science Center before the rain garden. Note bare grassy area in the left front of the building.

The Citizen Science Center Rain Garden is the result of a collaboration between the students in Dr. Paula Kleintjes-Neff's 2008 Field Experiences in Conservation Biology course from UW-Eau Claire (UWEC) and Beaver Creek Reserve. Citizen Science Center staff had been wanting a rain garden for several years, but hadn't been able to prioritize the time to build one. The UWEC students set to work and researched rain gardens, created a design, dug and prepped the soil, acquired plants from local nursuries, and planted the garden in the spring. The results were spectacular! Within the first summer, swallowtail butterflies, rabbits, squirrels, and hummingbirds were seen using the garden!

Students measuring and designing rain garden, early April 2008.

Students digging the rain garden plot, late April 2008.

Students prepping the ground for planting, May 2008.

Students planting and mulching rain garden, May 2008.

The students pose for a photo after the planting is completed, May 2008.

The rain garden two months after it was planted, July 2008.

The rain garden one year and four months after planting, September 2009.