For those curious about rain gardens, GG reader Cynthia sent us a few pics from her DIY project:

I attended the Metro Blooms seminars last year, put in a rain garden and got reimbursement. I should preface this by saying that I am NOT a plant person or gardener. (I subscribe to this blog in hopes of becoming a bit less inept with plants.) The rain garden was one of the coolest things I’ve done with my house/yard. I used all plugs, so started with really small plants and grasses, but by the end of summer most of the plants had grown well. I had a ton of color, bumblebees, butterflies… it was so fun to watch. Plus, most importantly, it WORKED! The runoff from my sidewalk into my driveway and garage was almost completely resolved, all summer and in the thaw this spring. During the heavy rains it was full of water, but always drained in the appropriate amount of time to prevent skeeters. It was such an accomplishment because it worked AND I kept it alive! I’m seeing some shoots now, and am excited to see what this year brings. Hopefully more flowers!

I’d say the results (and the photos) are magazine perfect — Thanks again, Cynthia!

I just signed up for a Metro Blooms class and I can hardly wait to start a rain garden of my own. Time to sharpen my shovel!

If you’d like to go a little greener in the garden this year, there are plenty of things you can do: start composting to reduce yard and kitchen waste; opt for natural fertilizers for your lawn and garden — or put in a rain garden.

A rain garden is not a water feature like a pond or a fountain. It’s a great, low-maintenance way to incorporate native plants into your lawn, reduce runoff, and keep Minnesota’s watershed healthy and happy.

Metro Blooms is making rain gardening a little easier by sponsoring a series of educational workshops on how to plan and plant a rain garden. In addition to the basic workshop, the nonprofit organization also offers a two-hour coaching session on rain gardening as well as on-site consultations and reimbursement grants for buying native plants.

Today’s guest blogger (and beginning gardener), Kathleen Clonts attended a workshop in March and gives us the scoop:

I went to one of Metro Blooms’ rain garden workshops without knowing much about rain gardens — other than I guessed they would involve using native plants and, well, rain. I was lured by the cost ($10) and the possibility of a $65 native plant reimbursement.

Most of the audience probably heard “low-maintenance’’ and expected B-O-R-I-N-G, but the gardens that Rusty Schmidt, the presenter, showcased were lush and attractive. He went through a wealth of information in the two-hour session including: sizing a garden, figuring out the needed depth with a water percolation test (not as difficult as it sounds), diverting water to the bed and choosing plants.

Frankly, it was more information than some of my 5-hour-credit college courses gave me.

Metro Blooms also offers a part B workshop (also cheaper than a bad manicure) where small groups work with professionals to plan their gardens. People interested in installing a rain garden may also get a financial help from their watershed district. More info on classes around the Twin Cities at metroblooms.org.

What’s your take on rain gardens? Have you started on of your own? What advice would you give to those gardeners who’d like to give ‘em a try?