We have experienced quite a bit of rain over the last couple of weeks but the dry period we had a couple of weeks prior seemed like a drought with no end. I remember wishing for all of my plants to be drought tolerant so I wouldn't have to water (the few that aren't) every day. Even the rain barrels were dry. Even though technically we are still in a drought cycle, right now the garden is almost soggy. It has been raining every afternoon. Welcome to Alabama. We get 56 inches of rainfall annually but we never really know when we are going to get it. Usually dry in the autumn, wetter in the winter and spring, we have long hot summers with sporadic afternoon showers, and sometimes with long periods of drought. Some year's droughts are worse than others. It's amazing how quickly we forget how extremely dry it can be until we are in the middle of the weather trend. During a drought, we long for rain and regret we did nothing to prepare for its effects. When we receive plentiful rains, we are thankful the garden gets a good watering but then complain when the rainfall exceeds our expectations. Too much rain can cause problems for our yards, our homes, our municipalities. We complain but do not think about harvesting and saving the water for later use. We do not remember that drought is sure to follow. 

Alabama is rich with lakes, ponds, wetlands, estuaries, rivers and streams. Because of the abundant water resources and the fact we get so much rainfall, it seems we have a limitless supply of water for drinking and irrigation, and that there is no need for conserving or harvesting rainwater. As human populations grow and urban and suburban developments spread throughout the state, the need for water use grows and the limitations on available fresh clean water become evident. When land is developed and covered with concrete and asphalt, rain runoff flows across the hard surfaces picking up pollutants as it goes, transporting the contaminants into the body of water in which it flows. If large areas are covered with hard surface materials, it is difficult for water to soak in and recharge groundwater and aquifers. Instead, runoff becomes a fast moving destructive force and causes erosion problems downhill.

 

 

 

 

 

Clean water is needed by all living creatures. We humans should vow to be better stewards of the good Earth's clean water resources. A gardener can make an impact here. Through conservative use of water and elimination of pollutants (like lawn fertilizers), we can change a few gardening practices to help insure the protection and care of the watersheds and keep the fresh water flowing. 

 

 

 

 

Watersheds by definition are areas of land divided by high points that shed water into a common drainage or outlet. Watersheds in their natural state are most effective at capturing, filtering, and diverting water. This natural multi-layered system collects, stores, processes, and transports water, energy, sediments, nutrients, and life to deliver fresh clean water to the streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, estuaries, and ultimately the sea. All of these areas are important habitats for Alabama's diverse native plant and animal populations. Ranked 5th in overall biodiversity, much of the diversity in species are living in these ecosystems. 

 

 

 

We all live in some kind of watershed whether it is in a more natural state or made of concrete and asphalt. To do my part in helping to protect the watershed I live in, I terraced my sloping front yard a bit and dug a rain garden. I use rain barrels at downspouts around the house to minimize runoff. One downspout is left open to flow through a concrete channel along the side of the house and into the front yard, where it empties into the rain garden. A rain garden is essentially a miniature watershed. I tried my best to mimic a natural watershed by digging a curved depression and planting it with rocks of various sizes to help slow water flow. The soil that was dug out to form the depression was piled onto the sides to form the berm. I planted all native plants but a few non natives have volunteered. Planting good old Alabama native plants that are acclimated to the Alabama weather conditions will insure success. The plants were planted according to their water needs (high on the berm for dry/low in the depression for wet), making all of the plants "drought tolerant." This type of garden is a natural functioning irrigation system. I seldom have to water.

 

 

 

Installing a rain garden makes you an eco-friendly, water conservative, time saving, habitat creating, native plant conservationist!

 

Rain Garden Benefits

 

• filter runoff pollution

• recharge local groundwater

• conserve water

• improve water quality

• protect rivers and streams

• remove standing water in your yard

• reduce mosquito breeding

• increase beneficial insects that eliminate pest insects

• reduce potential of home flooding

• create habitat for birds & butterflies

• survive drought seasons

• reduce garden maintenance

• enhance sidewalk appeal

• increase garden enjoyment