Oak Creek Green Summer

11/03/2025

UPDATE: ***we just heard they sold out!***

Who doesn't love a free tree?! A local initiative called the Big Plant is working to manage stormwater runoff and reduce flooding by gifting Wisconsin native trees to residents. If you are interested in receiving a free tree in a one-gallon container to plant in your yard, please click the link below for the flyer and form. Some exclusions apply.

Details:
• Must live in the Milwaukee River Basin (details below)
• Tree Order Deadline: Wednesday, November 12
• Pick Up Day + Times: Saturday, November 15, between 9:00am-12:00pm
• Location: Johnson’s Nursery, W180N6275 Marcy Rd, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

Use this link to sign up for a free tree:
https://kb.jniplants.com/big-plant-johnsons-nursery

10/31/2025

Don't get spooked, but winter is coming. It's time to disconnect and winterize your rain barrel.

See instructions here:

When the temperatures drop below 40 degrees, it's time to winterize your rain barrel. Properly winterizing your rain barrel will make sure you're ready to ca...

04/26/2023

Spring days are starting to outrun wintery days in Wisconsin. Now is a great time to reconnect your rain barrel to be ready for those May flowers.

10/15/2022

10/07/2022

The pollinator garden we installed this summer at Rooted Community Garden looks amazing! Just stopped by with part of the Oak Creek Green Summer team for a visit. It’s great to see the yarrow’s feathery foliage thriving in autumn’s cooler temps. Some even have new blooms, as does a rudebeckia. It’s fun to watch these native plants change throughout the seasons and continue to provide food, habitat, and shelter for insects, birds, and pollinators in all kinds of weather.

10/03/2022

Thank you, Oak Creek! Oak Creek Green Summer was brought to you by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District - MMSD and Fresh Coast Guardians in cooperation with the City of Oak Creek! This has been an amazing summer installing green infrastructure in the City. We have installed over 100 rain barrels and planted several rain gardens! We have enjoyed meeting so many of you and learning how much people in Oak Creek care about the environment and protecting Lake Michigan from pollution.

We accomplished a lot together. When it rains, stormwater picks up pollutants as it flows across lawns, roads, and parking lots. Green infrastructure – rain barrels, rain gardens, stormwater trees, and more -- help manage stormwater where it falls and keep it out of our sewer system, streams, and lakes. The people of Oak Creek embraced green infrastructure in a big way this summer. We installed 130 free rain barrels, built six rain gardens at City residences, and constructed one beautiful native plant garden at Rooted Community Garden.

Click on the link below to take a short survey and to tell us what you thought of Oak Creek Green Summer.

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

09/12/2022

Filling your gardens and yard with keystone plants not only manages storm water where it falls protecting our Lake Michigan, but keystone trees, shrubs and flowers Al’s provide food, shelter and reproductive environments for our native Wisconsin bugs, birds and animals.

This is a great resource as you plan your rain garden extensions over winter.

Gardeners are increasingly seeing the value in plants that encourage nature's diversity, say local nursery experts..

08/17/2022

We have had a great season in Oak Creek, and it’s time to put away our tools and get ready for Back to School. Posting a memory of the first rain garden we planted this summer.

08/13/2022

Our August update e-newsletter includes information on natural lawn care, stormwater trees, and native landscaping.

08/06/2022

In remembrance, Oak Creek Green Summer is giving away butterfly plants today from 11-3 until supplies last. We are also talking with residents about receiving a free rain barrel.