During summer 2009, the City of Rochester launched Realize Raingardens Rochester, a cost share grant program to promote the installation of raingardens in Rochester. This program was co-developed by a task force of interested citizens, landscape professionals, and City Public Works staff so that selected sites can be used to demonstrate how raingardens slow, treat, and infiltrate storm water, while adding beauty to neighborhoods and creating habitat for song birds and butterflies.
In addition to offering cost-share grants, the City's Storm Water Website offers a wide range of information on raingardens for gardeners wishing to develop their "blue thumb."
RRR 2013: It's never to early to begin planning! 2013 grants will be accepted January 1-May 1. Download the 2013 Application and Supplemental Documents to get started on the process!
RRR 2012: Contratulations to the latest round of raingarden grant winners! They are busy planning, digging and planting - stay tuned for slide shows as these projects develop!
Ganrude Raingarden: 506 13th Street NE
Herman Raingarden: 2600 Boulder Ridge Drive NW
RRR 2011 Cost-Share Grant Award Winners:
Attleson Raingarden: 429 19th Ave. SW
Blocksome Raingarden: 6304 Shetland Dr. NW
Solem Raingarden: 5720 23rd Ave. NW
Storey Raingarden: 2221 Lenwood Dr. SW
Tarashanti Raingarden: 930 17th St. SE
Walker Raingarden: 1734 22nd Ave. NE
Wojcik Raingarden: 984 Fox Knoll Dr. SW
RRR 2010: Seven cost-share grants have been awarded for 2010.
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Anderson Raingarden: 16 7th Avenue NE
D'Ambrosio Raingarden: 801 6th Avenue SW
Gathje Raingarden: 1704 8th Avenue SE
LeQuia Raingarden: 54 Viking Village Drive NW
Petersen Raingarden: 621 3rd Street NW
Swanson Raingarden: 2421 18th Avenue NW
Tarnow Raingarden: 2114 Glenview Lane NE
RRR 2009: Four cost-share grants were awarded in 2009.
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MacIlraith Raingarden: 2915 15th Avenue NW
Sehl Raingarden: 1865 21st Avenue NW
Sixta Raingarden: 425 15th Avenue SW
Storino Raingarden: 1005 23rd Avenue SW
Click on the links below for information on the following raingarden topics:
NEW! Raingardens Around Rochester
Raingarden Installation Videos! #1 and #2
What is a Raingarden?
Building a Raingarden
Cost-Share Grants
Host a Raingarden Party
Register Your Raingarden
History of Realize Raingardens Rochester
Need assistance with maintaining your yard? Check out Blue Thumb's Year-Round Guide to Yard Care filled with tips and arranged in a convenient seasonal format, it will help you decide what to plant and when to fertilize; it will help you restore ailing plants and enrich your soil. Many of the steps outlined in the guide will save you both time and money, making it even easier to enjoy your lawn or garden.
Want to know the Secret to Leisurely Landscaping? Its easy: go native!
Hundreds of years ago, Minnesota was covered in native plants - grasses, foliage, and trees indigenous to our region. Native plants differ from non-natives because of their complex relationships with other organisms, acting as critical components in maintaining nature's delicate balance. Other great things about natives include their ability to handle MN's extreme weather, their lack of need for fertilizer and even additional water once established, and their attractiveness.
Click here for a presentation containing photos and information on Rochester's native gardens.
NEW! View the September 19,2011 Native Plant Workshop presentation here.