by C. Eliana Brown, RORG Director Did you know the Red Oak Rain Garden isn’t just a beautiful community space—it’s also beneficial to our majestic red oak? Before the rain garden existed, the oak had “wet feet” during storms, preventing it from thriving. People passing through also used to experience wet feet as rainwater floodedContinueContinue reading “This GivingTuesday, make a lasting impact with the Red Oak Rain Garden!”
Tag Archives: nature
Summer 2025 IISG Stormwater Intern: Jenna Balaban
Looking back on this summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and Illinois Extension. I leave with wonderful memories and an even deeper sense of connection to the community that cares so deeply about integrating sustainable infrastructure into our world. I feel so grateful for all that I haveContinueContinue reading “Summer 2025 IISG Stormwater Intern: Jenna Balaban “
Erin’s Senior Capstone Project: Deucalion’s Garden
The Inspiration When I tell people I recently graduated from the Sustainable Design program at Illinois, their first reaction is often curiosity. I’m frequently asked questions like, “What is Sustainable Design?” or, “How is it different from other design majors?” To me, Sustainable Design is set apart by its focus on solving real-world problems andContinueContinue reading “Erin’s Senior Capstone Project: Deucalion’s Garden”
Lessons from the Ground: A Conversation with Tony Heath, Former RORG Project Engineer
This blog is part of Joe Hinsberger’s ENVS491 course. As part of his assignment and to prepare for the interview, he read a past interview and several blog posts that Tony wrote while serving as construction manager As a civil engineering student, I’ve always been curious about the real-world challenges behind what we study inContinueContinue reading “Lessons from the Ground: A Conversation with Tony Heath, Former RORG Project Engineer”
Illinois communities make strides to improve stormwater
By Chantal Korde, Stormwater Intern I have always had a passion for sustainability and the natural environment, but as a chemical engineer, I have not always had many chances to work on projects relating to it. That is why I was extremely excited when I got the opportunity to work with the Illinois-Indiana Sea GrantContinueContinue reading “Illinois communities make strides to improve stormwater”
Orange & Blue Week
From March 3-9, the University of Illinois celebrates Orange & Blue Week, a chance for Illini and friends to unite and make a difference. The Red Oak Rain Garden is honored to be a part of the inaugural effort to highlight crowdfunding projects that directly impact our students and campus. The University of Illinois atContinueContinue reading “Orange & Blue Week”
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 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 