This past May, I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I recently got my diploma in the mail, and I am preparing to start a new job and for my whole life to shift on its axis. For the first time ever, I will no longer be a student. In the face ofContinueContinue reading “Looking Back on my RORG Experience: Chantal Korde”
Tag Archives: native-plants
New Signage Brings Fresh Visibility to RORG
After years of thoughtful planning, the Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) is now home to two new signs thanks to generous support from the American Water Charitable Foundation and the Student Sustainability Committee. An interpretive sign and a sculpture identification plaque not only beautify the space, but also deepen the public’s connection to this high-profile,ContinueContinue reading “New Signage Brings Fresh Visibility to RORG”
Rain Garden Rumble 2025
Round 1 ResultsRound 2 ResultsRound 3 ResultsFinal Results To mark the sixth year of our competitive native plant tournament, we invite you to get ready for… RAIN…GARDEN…RUMMBBLLLEEEEEEE!!!! Our Rain Garden Rumble tournament takes an educational spin on a sports classic, teaching people about native plants, their benefits, and how to include them in home gardens. Including rainContinueContinue reading “Rain Garden Rumble 2025”
A Wheel Bug’s Life at RORG
Traipsing through the jungle of sedges, climbing among wildflowers, or buzzing loudly by, the North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) is a prehistoric-looking insect you might spot in our rain garden during warmer months, aptly named for the wheel-like armor on its back. Approaching four years of my regular visiting of RORG, I can safelyContinueContinue reading “A Wheel Bug’s Life at RORG”
RORG’s 2024 Year-in-Review
By the RORG Team Welcome to RORG’s Year in Review — our fifth one! Before we start, we’d like to express our gratitude to all of the volunteers who gave us their time and talent. We also thank the University of Illinois Extension, Extension’s Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment program, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant for their leadership and University of IllinoisContinueContinue reading “RORG’s 2024 Year-in-Review”
Giving Tuesday 2024
by C. Eliana Brown, RORG Director Did you know that RORG is beneficial for its red oak tree? Before the rain garden was installed, the oak had “wet feet” during storms, preventing this magnificent tree from thriving. People passing through also used to experience wet feet when rainwater flooded the sidewalk. In fact, there wasContinueContinue reading “Giving Tuesday 2024”
The Intersection of Engineering and Nature at the Red Oak Rain Garden
By Joe Hinsberger, RORG Sustainability Intern Throughout my life, I’ve sought to connect with nature and have often thought about how to center my life around it after college. As I got older, I discovered a passion for designing things, and I realized I actually didn’t mind math, which led me to pursue Civil andContinueContinue reading “The Intersection of Engineering and Nature at the Red Oak Rain Garden”
Rain Garden Rumble 2024
To mark the FIFTH YEAR of our competitive native plant tournament, formerly known as “Mulch Madness”, we invite you to get ready for… RAIN…GARDEN…RUMMBBLLLEEEEEEE!!!! Our Rain Garden Rumble tournament takes an educational spin on a sports classic, teaching people about native plants, their benefits, and how to include them in home gardens. Including rain gardens,ContinueContinue reading “Rain Garden Rumble 2024”
RORG’s 2023 Year in Review
By the RORG Team Welcome to RORG’s Year in Review — our fourth one! Before we start, we’d like to express our gratitude to all of the volunteers that gift us their time and talent. We also thank University of Illinois Extension, Extension’s Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment program, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant for their leadership and UIUC Facilities & Services forContinueContinue reading “RORG’s 2023 Year in Review”
Red Oak Rain Garden 