Rain gardens are an effective landscape feature designed to capture excess stormwater runoff from buildings, roads, and driveways. Understanding how rain gardens function, as well as how to design, install, and maintain rain gardens will be the focus of an upcoming hybrid rainscaping education program, hosted by the Greater Egypt Regional Planning & Development Commission and University of Illinois Extension in partnership with Purdue Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.
This hybrid course will include four online sessions and one in-person plant day at the Jackson County Extension office. Details include:
- Tuesday, May 18 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. online
- Thursday, May 20 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. online
- Saturday, May 22 plant day at Jackson County Extension office from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (402 Ava Rd., Murphysboro, IL 62966)
- Tuesday, May 25 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. online
- Thursday, May 27 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. online
For the in-person session, participants are invited to bring garden tools and gloves, and to dress for gardening. Participants bringing a garden tool should wash the tool before using in the rain garden to avoid spreading the recently identified invasive jumping worm. The $5 registration fee includes light snacks during the in-person session, a rain garden manual, and other educational materials.
Many Illinois Extension and 4-H activities have transitioned to in-person programming based on local conditions in conjunction with current IDPH guidelines. Events are held in reduced capacity settings following all local and state safety protocols. Participants must wear masks and practice social distancing. This program is limited to 20 participants. Register at https://go.illinois.edu/raingardenseries by May 13 to reserve your spot!
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in programming, please contact Austin Little at little84@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.