10/18/2026
THE LIVING CIRCLE RAIN GARDEN 💦
What appears to be a simple garden renovation is, in reality, a lesson in perseverance and problem-solving.
The former 30-foot-diameter fountain site was so heavily compacted that even excavating just four inches down to provide a drainage layer proved a monumental task.
Rather than create a conventional rain garden with a shallow rainwater retention basin, the Master Gardeners are deploying an alternative solution: an expanded shale drainage layer, a quick-draining soil mix, and a raised planting mound that helps keep plant roots above lingering surface water. We selected plants that can tolerate periodic wet conditions to complete the design.
The Living Circle Rain Garden at the entry to the Rowan Community Center, and the former site of a large fountain, will demonstrate how thoughtful design, appropriate materials, and careful plant selection can transform difficult growing conditions into a beautiful landscape! The Rowan Master Gardeners hope that the garden at this challenging site will act as a living classroom to educate and inspire the community through demonstration plantings, sustainable gardening practices, and research-based approaches to managing soggy, low draining site conditions, supporting pollinators, and creating attractive, environmentally responsible landscapes.
After weeks of preparing this 30’ diameter bed….the finish line is in sight! Stay tuned to see the finished garden….and thank a Master Gardeners today!! 🌿💚🌿
