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 beautifulContinue reading “RORG’s Ceramics”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
In the Garden: Mid-October 2020
By Layne Knoche, RORG Landscape Designer As we move into the middle of October, fall colors are reaching their peak in and around the garden. The Red Oak has begun to change color and Spicebush continues its show of vibrant yellow foliage. The large drifts of Prairie Dropseed have begun to turn to colors ofContinue reading “In the Garden: Mid-October 2020”
RORG’s Very Own Prairie Fire
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 did you know that it represents prairie fire? And that it was designedContinue 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 isContinue 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 systemContinue 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 yourContinue reading “We’re Certified!”
Construction Update: Phase III, the bridge
by Eliana Brown, RORG Director I’m sure many of you have the seen the sign at the Red Oak Rain Garden letting you know that a new boardwalk/bridge was coming in Spring 2020 and, perhaps, you’re probably wondering where it is. A combination of the spread and mitigation of COVID-19 and other extenuating circumstances hasContinue reading “Construction Update: Phase III, the bridge”
How Do You Measure a Tree
By Tony Heath, Project Engineer Oh, how do you measure a tree? If you’re feeling poetic, you might count the hours spent reclining in its shade or ask how many birds call its branches home. An urban planner might ask how the tree improves neighborhood outcomes, while a engineer might ask how much water itContinue reading “How Do You Measure a Tree”
Estimating Impact: Carbon Sequestration
By Carl Carman, Guest Blogger/Ex-officio RORG Team collaborator/Volunteer The Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) team planted approximately 9,000 plants and recorded the species, number, and geospatial location of each plant. Given the plethora of plants, the team thought it might be cool to estimate the environmental impact of the garden in the context of terrestrialContinue reading “Estimating Impact: Carbon Sequestration”
When Will RORG Look Like an HGTV Garden?
by Layne Knoche, Landscape Designer Last fall, the RORG team and nearly 100 volunteers successfully installed about 9,000 native plants at the rain garden. While this monumental feat sounds like a lot, it might not look like a lot to many folks accustomed to HGTV quick transformations. That is, it might not look like muchContinue reading “When Will RORG Look Like an HGTV Garden?”
