The drainage basin by the Clay Studio now looks like a rain garden. I took this photo May 16, 2024
Back in February it looked like this (from the other direction).
It's a bit hard to see, because it was winter, and with the shade cast by the tree. There were cattails which would come up later, but the gardeners pulled them all out.We shall see if they don't come back.
But the main thing is this is a basin for sludge from the pottery studio's sink. It supposedly catches solid clay waste before it is drained, but the water always has glaze chemicals in it. I can't wait to see how it looks differently in this sumer!
I salute the Beautification Committee of Black Mountain for doing so much to improve many areas of the town. However, I personally feel they put in low maintenance shrubs just so they will be convenient. A three tiered planting area by Lake Tomahawk now has this sense to me, where before an Extension member gave us interesting plants. Even volunteer elders like myself could put some veggies and flowers into the lower space. A huge lavender plant was at least saved. And now lots of little blobs of green are all in a row. But change is necessary, and having no consistent gardener to care for it meant sometimes it got weedy. Yay new things!
Today's quote:
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us., JOSEPH CAMPBELL
Sharing with Sami's Colorful World Monday Murals
...rain gardens are a wonderful thing, but I've seen few that where designed well.
ReplyDeleteThere's a big effort around here for these tiny catchment basins where there is a space. Sometimes the engineers do get carried away.
DeleteI need to think about a rain garden. I have an area that could benefit.
ReplyDeleteWe have very shallow slopes around the church, but there were some clever ways that they devised to get the rain to go towards the run-off ditch by the road.
DeleteEfforts are being made if not always perfectly.
ReplyDeleteAnd kudos to those who at least make an effort!
DeleteSo glad you're back at Mud Buddies! And thank goodness the lavender was saved!
ReplyDeleteThanks. But my thought that the lavender was saved was wrong. It was there last fall, but must have succumbed in the winter (or they just pulled it and replaced it, which is more likely since it was by the lake in a south facing bed.) Sorry. I'll share a photo tomorrow of how it looks now!
DeleteWith the slope of my property leading towards the ravine, we never have a problem with standing water. I tend to put flowers and vegetables everywhere! It makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteAlways a lot to do in the gardens. Thanks for participating in Monday Murals Barbara.
ReplyDelete