By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer As an Illinois native plant fanatic, I typically stick with native plant species to make up most of my planting design palette. However, every once in a while, an opportunity arises where I simply can’t ignore the fact that a design may benefit from a non-native, non-invasive species. ‘Rozanne’ContinueContinue reading “Hail to the Orange (Tulips)”
Author Archives: raingardenuiuc
How-To: RORG Monster Friends
By Ariel Gomez, RORG Student Team Member Follow along as we show you the general steps to making your own Rain Garden Monster! We encourage you to use your imagination and have fun making these natural companions. BlackbeardBroomhildaBattyistella For a print version, click here. To see a video of the Monster Friends at RORG, clickContinueContinue reading “How-To: RORG Monster Friends”
Red Oak Recipes: Acorn Cakes
By Guest blogger Heidi Leuszler, Pastry Chef at Berries & Flour Last year on Oct 23, 2019, campus and community gathered to celebrate the completion of the Red Oak Rain Garden’s Phases I and II. We served special cakes made with some ingredients grown at the garden, including the red oak’s acorns. To mark thisContinueContinue reading “Red Oak Recipes: Acorn Cakes”
Join Our Community of Supporters
By C. Eliana Brown, RORG Director Supporters at the 2019 Soft Opening/Tree Celebration. Photo by Travis Tate. UPDATE (12/29/20): At 95% of our goal. Will YOUR gift be the one that takes us over the top? UPDATE (12/22/20): At 92% of our goal. Almost there! Help turn the tree green! We’re 92 percent of theContinueContinue reading “Join Our Community of Supporters”
RORG’s Ceramics
By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer If you’ve been out to the garden lately, you’ve probably noticed an artsy addition: twelve ceramic mosaic tiles placed around the garden’s perimeter along the sidewalks. The mosaic tiles were an instant hit at the garden, and the number one question we hear now is “Who made those beautifulContinueContinue reading “RORG’s Ceramics”
In the Garden: Late-October 2020
By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer Even after a number of frosts and freezes, the garden is still looking great. The large drifts of Prairie Dropseed have turned to colors golden brown, creating a blanket of beautiful texture across sunny areas of the garden. Late season blooms from Smooth Blue Aster, Black Eyed Susan, andContinueContinue reading “In the Garden: Late-October 2020”
RORG’s Very Own Prairie Fire
The Prairie Fire sculpture with Purple Poppy Mallow. Photo by Layne Knoche. By Kate Gardiner, RORG Communications Manager If you’ve walked through the garden, you’ve probably noticed the sculpture – it’s red and wavy and pops up in several different parts of the garden. It’s beautiful, especially when it catches the setting sun. But didContinueContinue reading “RORG’s Very Own Prairie Fire”
Drone Days with Dennis: An Interview with Extension’s Dennis Bowman
By Kate Gardiner, RORG Communications Manager You’ve likely heard of drones, but have you ever seen one in action? I saw one for the first time last October when Dennis Bowman used it to capture 360 degree video of the Red Oak Rain Garden. And I must say it’s pretty cool. N. Dennis Bowman isContinueContinue reading “Drone Days with Dennis: An Interview with Extension’s Dennis Bowman”
Rain Gardens – View from an Economist
By Prof. Amy Ando, Guest blogger Rain gardens, like other kinds of green infrastructure, capture rainfall that nurtures the garden plants and soaks into the ground (known as infiltration). Rain gardens can replenish groundwater and reduce stormwater runoff that would otherwise contribute to pollution and flooding during heavy rains. Adding rain gardens to a systemContinueContinue reading “Rain Gardens – View from an Economist”
We’re Certified!
by Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer As you may have heard, the Red Oak Rain Garden was recently certified through several conservation-related organizations. This blog gives more information about the certifications and how RORG qualtifies for them. It is our hope that you will be inspired by the Red Oak Rain Garden to install yourContinueContinue reading “We’re Certified!”
Red Oak Rain Garden 