By: Rachel Melvin, Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Coordinator with University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County

A wet fall helps the Queen Anne’s County Centreville Branch Library rain garden grow.  The University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County Master Gardener Volunteers help take care of the rain garden on the third Thursday every month from March to November.  This rain garden plays an important role in diverting rain water from impervious surfaces such as the parking lot and roof into the rain garden insuring that the rain water is used in the best possible way.  As storm water runoff passes through the rain garden physical and biological process let the native plants in the rain garden use the water for growth and absorption to soil particles remove pollutants and nutrients from the storm water runoff.  These processes are vital to protecting our water supply by diverting potentially harmful nutrients from entering the Corsica River Watershed.  Plants native to the North Eastern United States are used in the rain garden because they are better adapted to our environment, they can tolerate heavy rain storms and the unforgiving summer droughts that can often be found in Maryland.  Additionally, many of our wildlife depend on these plants for various life stages.  The University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County Master Gardener Volunteers have partnered with the Queen Anne’s County Department of Public Works and the Queen Anne’s County Centreville Branch Library, to maintain the garden by lending a hand to keep the garden blooming and worry free throughout those hot summer months for library goers.

For more information contact Rachel Melvin, Horticulture Educator with University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County at (410)758-0166 or at rmelvin1@umd.edu .  Also check out the University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County website at http://queenannes.umd.edu, for more tips on growing great gardens.

University of Maryland Extension programs are open to everyone without regard to race, color,     religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability

In photo: Master Gardeners:
University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County Master Gardener Volunteers –are volunteers trained by the University of Maryland who provide horticultural education services to individuals, groups and communities.  Annually, Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners volunteer over 3,000 hours of service to Queen Anne’s County citizens.
Back row left to right: Kit Foster, David Taylor, Debbie Pusey, Judy Geggis, and Susan Seth
Front row left to right: Jackie Kelly, Judy Conley and Carol Jelich
*Master Gardener not pictured Jim Persels