Ann, I'm so glad that you are taking the class! I noticed your name while answering questions but just put it together that you are the teacher I talked to a few months back about rain gardens at your school. Let me know if you would like copies of the lessons I have taught about rain gardens, water quality, stormwater and designing a garden.

Hi Joni, I know this is an old post, but how did your rain garden turn out? :)

After a year hiatus on this project, I am resuming planning and hope to install this fall. I am hosting a pair of community collaborative design workshops to get input and teach the neighborhood about rain gardens & stormwater management. Last fall, non-profit group planted river birch in the area, with the plan to design the garden around the tree. The City also cleaned out the catch basin, the results were underwhelming...

The photo labeled "two" with no snow... If you dig a gravel walkway from the driveway down to the rain garden location to force the water to the desired location the water will not affect the basement. Curve the walkway all the way up into the corner by the garage door, or use something very densely rooted as an edging to deflect the water to the walkway. Siberian or Japanese Iris work well for this,or even Liriope which is evergreen.