Redmond Rain #27 - Rain Gardens Everywhere - byop Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

RedmondRain: With the sign going down and the container muggled, it is time to do a new hide here.

More
Hidden : 9/25/2018
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


Redmond Rain waters beautiful rain gardens! The 151st Rain Garden is here for your enjoyment. These plants get no irrigation, they are watered only when it rains! Please don't disturb the plants or walk in the garden.


FTF: froggerhop

This hide location has ups and downs of muggle activity. It is quietest early morning and late evening. There is a lot of foot traffic around meal times. Smoke breaks happen nearby, and some folks seem to camp out during the day nearby, too. Most people probably won't notice what you're doing, or care. But the smokers and campers may be more interested, so some stealth is requested.

Someday, this street will be renamed "DaVinci" and punch through to the north to connect with the street at the new light rail station that opens in 2025. Sometime soon, there will be a new on-ramp from SR520 dumping out there, too. In the meantime, we can enjoy this quiet cul-de-sac entrance to an office park with a rather large rain garden along the sidewalk.

Future Street Grid



You can build your own rain garden at home! Here are some of the steps . . .

1. Find a location

The rule of thumb suggests that you place the garden at least 10 feet away from your home to prevent flooding in your house. Do not locate the garden over a septic field. You should try to choose a naturally occurring low spot in your yard or position the garden where your downspouts or sump pump outlet can be used to direct rainwater into your garden.

2. Measure drainage area

If you are building the rain garden in a low spot in your yard you do not need to measure the drainage area. Just ensure the area receives water regularly during a rainstorm. If you are capturing water from a roof or other hard surface you will need to measure the specific drainage area of that surface and multiply by the number associated with the type of soil you have. For sandy soil multiply by 20%, for loam use 30-35% and for clay use 45-60%. These numbers are somewhat inflated but they will ensure the garden holds as much water as possible.

3. Create a design

Whether your garden is large or small the same basic principles apply. By planning your garden on paper first, you will be able to create the best appearance possible for your rain garden.

4. Choose your plants

Native plants are suggested for rain garden installations because they are best adapted for our climate. You will want to choose plants (flowers and grasses) that will grow well in both wet and dry areas because the rain garden will temporarily fill with rainwater from time to time.

5. Lay out the garden

Lay out the shape and boundary of the garden based on your design.

6. Dig the garden

Remove the turf grass and dig your garden approximately 4-8 inches deep. Use the soil to build a berm around the garden edges if necessary.

7. Prepare the soil

Amend the soil with 2″-3″ of compost. Mix in well.

8. Plant the flowers and grasses

Follow the design you created and place your plants in the approximate positions. Step back and look at the garden and the design. Plants should be placed about 1 foot apart from each other. Once you are satisfied you can start planting the flowers and grasses using a hand trowel.

9. Mulch the garden

Use coarse, fibrous, shredded wood chips that won’t float or blow away. Apply the mulch about 2-3 inches deep. This will help to keep the moisture in and the weeds out.

10. Water and arrange downspouts
 After you have planted the garden, water every other day for 2 weeks if it doesn’t rain, until garden looks to be growing on its own. Good water techniques and maintenance is the key to a quality rain garden. Over time, you may find some plants don't do well. Rather than replacing them in kind, try something new or add more of the plants that are successful in your site.

Want to learn more? Visit the WSU Extension.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Pbafvqre gur vasbezngvbany fvta naq pbafvqre fbzr PVGB ng guvf heona pnpur.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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