Greetings fellow nature lovers! I'm hoping you might volunteer with me on a fun garden project.
When: 3 Sundays: Nov 2, 9, 16 from 9a-12p. Volunteer for one or all!
Where: San Dieguito County Park - lower park
Why: The purpose of the garden will not only be to beautify the park, but to provide food and habitat for pollinators while cleaning stormwater. The garden will also educate the public about climate change, habitat loss, pollinators, native plants and pollution.
What: We will be developing an area of the park near the butterfly garden that will contain multiple ways to educate the public. This Native Pollinator SMRT (Stormwater Makes Retained Treasure) uses an old idea of streetside gardens to capture stormwater runoff from streets and allow it to help restore groundwater instead of running into storm drains and into the ocean untreated. This is not a new idea as many cities have incorporated the idea into new curbside planting. About Green Streets | Portland.gov . The location of this garden is nearly perfectly located at the end of a long road and hillside and by a parking lot. Rain will run down those roads, hills and parking areas and into the garden to water native pollinator plants. Right now rain is directed into a large storm drain at the end of the road. In November, rain will be directed into the garden by use of sandbags across the road and small curb cuts to allow water to flow in. Rain water will be taken up by the plants or cleaned and returned to groundwater. If you want more details, see the attached ILCSD presentation.
Details:
Nov 2 -We dig shallow trenches and retention bowls to channel, slow and collect rainwater.
Nov 9 – We place gravel in the trenches and bowls. These will look a bit like a dry stream bed when finished.
Nov 16 – We plant 4 15g trees and about 8 5g shrubs..
Later, in the spring, we will finish installation of our pollinator plants (dates TBA) in the garden. The final touch will be a beautiful sign that explains the garden in detail, benefits of the gravel areas and plants. Stay tuned for more information early next year.
