I enjoyed your 4/24 article on rain gardens. I am considering constructing one.
1. What plants would you recommend I plant on a hill to slow down my neighbor’s enormous runoff before it runs downhill to pond my back yard and flood my cellar?
2. What is the name of the “green” engineering firm (constructing a new building downtown near Ward Parkway, I believe) recently mentioned in the Star because people stare at the hole in the ground which will become a water garden?
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There is a fine list of plants useful for rain gardens at this link: http://www.rainkc.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.main/index.htm. This is a good place to start researching the construction of a rain garden also. Choose plants that best fit the growing conditions in your garden(sun/shade, wind exposure, etc.), in addition to the form/texture/color you are looking for. Additionally, you can search for plants at www.grownative.org. Good research and planning will reward you with a successfully implemented rain garden that is both functional and attractive.
I am sorry to say I cannot answer your second question, perhaps someone else can.
Good luck,
Carole
Johnson County Research & Extension Master Gardener