Saturday, June 13, 2009

Raindrops on roses and ... rain gardens!

Usually this time of the year, I’ve started to log some serious hours in my garden --tethered to a hose and clutching a water wand as I minister to a wilted plant. In northern Illinois, we oftentimes experience extended dry periods during the growing season. This year, however, is different. We have been receiving consistent rainfall throughout the spring – the Morton Arboretum looks spectacular! The combination of cool, wet weather has created lots of luxurious growth on plants ranging from the sweet peas outside the Library entrance to the conifers along the walk to Frost Hill. It is a great time to be gardening or, at least, to be an admirer of gardens!
Making the most of resources is something that gardeners seem to do especially well. The following resources available in the Sterling Morton Library explore making the most of a very precious resource – our rainwater:


  • Ciesinski, Therese. "Rain Check." Organic Gardening 55.6 (Aug. 2008): 62-66.
  • Davis, Julie Bawden. "Showering of Gifts." Native Plants 22.4 (Summer 2006): 24-29.
  • Doyle, Janice J. "What about Rain Gardens?" National Gardener 77.3 (Summer 2006): 26-27.
  • Dunnett, Nigel and Andy Clayden. Rain Gardens : Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape. Portland, Or.: Timber Press, 2007. SB475.83 .D86
  • Fortnam, Joanna. "Let it Rain." Garden Design (June 2006): 62-63.
  • Haapoja, Margaret A. "Rain, Rain -- Grow Away!." Northern Gardener 133.2 (Mar. 2005): 40-43.
  • Loven, Zazel. "Your Natural Landscape." Organic Gardening 54.3. (Apr. 2007): 52-57.
  • Maloney, Cathy Jean. "Let It Rain." Chicagoland Gardening 11.2 (Mar. 2005): 70-74.
  • Reas, Lisa. "Rain Gardens." Garden Gate (Apr. 2009): 6-7.
  • Rottle, Nancy, and Anna O'Connell. "Designing and Rating Sustainable Sites." Public Garden 20.4 (Dec. 2005): 35-36.

Additional resources are available at:

Come in out of the rain and peruse these resources in the Sterling Morton Library! Remember: the Library is open Tuesday through Friday from 9-5 and Saturday from 10-4.

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