With stronger storms and flooding becoming more prevalent, finding a way to mitigate flooding is more crucial than ever. Rain gardens are a great way to combat this in cities, and they brighten up the street, too.
Redditors were excited about one rain garden in New York that looked beautiful, livened up the gray city streets, and helped against flooding during a storm.
A Brooklyn resident posted an image of a rain garden in the r/GuerrillaGardening subreddit, showcasing green plants and yellow and orange flowers. The OP said the garden was two years old and was filled with "swamp rose, swamp milkweed, mountain mint, boneset, meadowsweet, hyssop, [and] marigolds."
"Started out as just a flat brown nothing," they added, noting the image was of the "guerilla rain garden doing its job during Debby."
The remnants of Hurricane Debby hit New York in August.
This rain garden in Brooklyn isn't the only one in the city. According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, it is actively creating these "to manage stormwater and improve water quality in local waterways." Green infrastructure like this improves street drainage. It also has other benefits, like purifying the air and helping streets feel cooler during warm weather.
Rain gardens absorb the water into the soil instead of flooding the sidewalks and streets. These gardens use native plants with deep roots and loose soil so the water can easily absorb. Other perks of incorporating native plants into landscaping include lower maintenance costs, as they don't require mowing and need less water than all-grass lawns.
In some areas, many city rain gardens are cared for by volunteers. You can take local action and help care for these gardens, too.
Redditors shared their excitement for the rain garden in Brooklyn in the comments, with one highlighting how it has been a boon for pollinating insects.
"That's amazing," one user said. "It needs a sign on that pole to educate people on how amazing it truly is."
"I walk my dog by this spot sometimes," another person wrote, "Lots of people really love it and it's always full of bees."
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